Patent GB-1371628-A (GB)
Title: Article handling apparatus
IPC: B65G21/16
Filed: 1971-10-01
Abstract: 1371628 Endless conveyers OWENSILLINOIS Inc 1 Oct 1971 [2 Oct 1970] 7319/74 Divided out of 1371627 Heading B8A Article handling apparatus comprises an endless conveyer chain mounted on a track comprising upper and lower track sections in vertical alignment joined by curved track sections at each end; drive means engaged with the chain to drive it along the resulting endless path; a plurality of article chuck assemblies mounted at uniformly spaced intervals along the chain and a plurality of independently adjustable tension regulating means for independently regulating the tension of the chain over selected portions of the endless path. The apparatus may be used in the production line of Specification 1,338,448. General.-As shown in Fig. 1, containers C with moil M on a transfer machine 66 are transferred to individual chucks 42 on an endless conveyer 40 at loading point L where they are gripped by chuck fingers 192, Fig. 8, when over a closing mechanism indicated at 68. The containers C, which are at a temperature of 900- 1000‹ F., then pass between burners 70 which control temperature drop along the top run 43 and round the end turn 56 of the conveyer 40 to the 800-900‹ F. required at the burn-off of the moil M, effected by main burners 74. The chucks 42 are rotated while passing through burners 70 and 74 by spin cycle devices 72 and 76 respectively. The finished containers C then pass through an inspection station 78 which has provision for ejecting rejected ware by opening chuck fingers 192. The chucks 42 then pass down an inclined section 80 of conveyer 40 over a pocket conveyer 84 moving therewith and a chuck opening mechanism 86 allows the finished containers C to enter pockets 82. The conveyer 40 then passes end turn 90 to the upper run 43, a chain lubricating mechanism 92 being periodically operated. Conveyer construction. Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 18.- The chain 40 comprises pairs of spaced rigid links 94 with at one end a single hub 96 and at the other spaced hubs 98, 100 the hubs being coupled by a link pin 108, the hubs 98, 100 being locked thereto by a set screw 110, and the pin 108 supporting drive rollers 118 and support rollers 120 outside links 94. Intermediate drive rollers 118a are mounted on each link 94. Buttons 126 on the outermost hub 96 and mid point of the link 94 are provided for synchronizing the speed of the chain with other connecting machines. Each link pin 108 is hollow and provided with a fitting 112 for connection with a lubricating device 92, a wick 128 in the pin and radial bores 130 leading to the rotary bearing surfaces. Support rollers 120 are guided on inner and outer track sections 132, 134 mounted on a fixed frame F, the tracks 132, 134 being in a plurality of sections with thermal expansion joints to allow for the extreme temperature differences between operation and non-operation. At the entry and exit to each end turn 56, 90, Figs. 1 and 18, the chain tracks 132, 134 include a parabolic section 138 with constantly changing radius of curvature from the straight runs to the constant radius of curvature sections. Each pair of links 94 carries a chuck assembly comprising a pair of chucks 42 on a common housing 140, one behind the other.  Conveyer drive and tensioning. Fig. 1.-The chain 40 is driven by a main drive sprocket 46 meshing with drive rollers 118, 118a at positions P-1 and P-2 on the upper and lower runs 43, 44 respectively and by a slave drive sprocket 50 engaging the lower run 44 only at position P-3, sprocket 46 being driven by motor 48 and sprocket 50 by motor 54 through a slip clutch 52, motor 54 being driven at a faster rate so that sprocket 40 exerts tension on chain 40 between the positions P-2 and P-3. Overall tension of chain 40 is effected by mounting sprocket 46 and the chain track at end 56 on a subframe 58 which can be shifted horizontally with respect to the main frame F by a screw jack mechanism 60. End turn 56 is mounted in the sub-frame 58, to allow for looser tension on the curve, by a threaded rod 62 with adjustable nuts 64. Chuck assembly. Figs. 8 and 9.-Each chuck assembly comprises a pair of chucks 42 mounted one behind the other on a common housing 140 having a platform 142 joining vertical sleeve sections 144, with bearings 146, 148 for a shaft 150 for each chuck 42. A semi-cylindrical tongue 152 extends forwardly from housing 140 and seats over a sleeve 114 on the link pin 108 and is secured by a nut on a threaded stud 116 on pin 108 extending through a slot 154. An arm 158 projects on the outer side of rear sleeve section 144 and has a hub 160 supporting a roller 162 which rides in a track 164 on machine frame F. A guide shoe 166 on the opposite side of platform 142 co-operates with guide tracks 168 while passing through the main burner 74 to locate the chucks 42 accurately relative to the burners. Each chuck 42 comprises shaft 150 rotatable by a sprocket 170 thereon engaged by chains in spin cycle mechanisms 72, 76, while passing between burners 70 and 74 respectively. Spin cycle mechanisms 72, 76 include chains, stationary and driven endless, respectively, both of which have specially tensioned sections. Each shaft 150 includes at its upper end a stud 176 with a threaded portion engaging a tapped bore 178, the stud 176 removably clamping to the shaft 150 a fulcrum plate 174, plate 174 being locked as by a tab, against rotation on shaft 150. A seat 186, with seat element 190 for container C, is removably secured to stud 176 by a bolt 184 in tapped bore 182. The chucks 42 can thus have different length studs 176 and size seat elements 190 for different size containers C, so that the burners 70, 74 do not require to be adjusted other than by small amounts. Similarly different fulcrum plates 174 may be used to alter the position of gripping fingers 192 which it supports. Three gripping fingers 192 are mounted on outwardly extending arms 196 on plate 174 on fulcrum pins 194 by means of side plates 198 which are joined by spacer pins 200. The lower ends of plates 198 include a cam slot 202 engaged by cam rollers 208 on a common pin 210 at the end of arms 206 on an actuating plate 204. Actuating plate 204 is secured by bolts 212 to a sleeve 214 mounted for axial movement on shaft 150, a tab 216 on plate 204 engaging a keyway 218 on shaft 150 to prevent rotation, the sleeve 214 being pressed upwardly by a compression spring 220. Downward movement of sleeve 214, to open the gripping fingers 192, is effected by a lever mechanism 222 mounted on housing 140 by spaced pivot pins 242 on projection 244 and 246 for front and rear chucks 42, the lever 222 having a roller 248, on a shaft 230 thereof, which engages a cam at the appropriate location 78 or 86 on the machine frame. After opening of the gripping fingers 192 at either rejection station 78 or transfer position 86, they are maintained open, until operated by a cam at the closing position 68, by means of a latching notch 258 on a lever 252 engaged by the shaft 230. Lubricating device for chain, Figs. 18, 22.- Lubrication mechanism 92 comprises a fourarmed star wheel 580 on shaft 582 having its axis coincident with the centre of curvature of end turn 90, the wheel 580 being, driven by chain pins 108 engaging notches 584. One arm 586 of wheel 580 carries a pneumatic motor 588 whose pistonrod 590 carries a lubricant discharge fitting 592. Lines 594 and 598 respectively for air and lubricant are connected from motor 588 and fitting 592 to passages 596 and 600 in shaft 582. Sources of air 632 and lubricant 634 are connected to the passages 596 and 600 in shaft 582 by means of a rotary coupling union 603 and supply systems as shown on Fig. 22 including motor 610 and piston-rod 612 connected to a mounting bracket (614) on which is mounted a three-way valve 618 with a valve actuating member 620 with cam follower roller 624 engaging when in lubricating supply position; an operating cam 626 with a short operating section 630 on shaft 582. The orientation of cam 626 is such that roller 624 is operated by cam section 630 only when a link pin 108 is in seated engagement with notch 584 of arm 586. Operation causes, first, air pressure to be supplied to motor 588 causing lubricant discharge fitting 592 into seating engagement with lubricant receiving fitting 112 on that link pin 108 in engagement with arm 586. A charge of lubricant is then supplied to fitting 592, the charge being sufficient to unseat a spring pressed ball valve (664) to supply the charge to fitting 112 and thence through the chain by wick 128 and bores 130 (Fig. 5). Before arm 586 is disengaged from link pin, cam section 630 is passed thereby stopping and retracting the lubricating device. As shown, lubricating will be effected on every sixteenth link pin and chain 40 is therefore formed with a number of link pins exceeding a multiple of sixteen by one so that every pin will be lubricated before any pin is lubricated twice. Specifications 1,371,627, 1,371,629 and 1,371,630 are referred to.