Patent GB-1206272-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to means for reading binary codes
Inventor: RILEY DENNIS ARNOLD
IPC: B65G47/48
Filed: 1967-03-17
Abstract: 1,206,272. Controlling discharge of endless conveyers. SOVEX Ltd. 14 March, 1968 [17 March, 1967], No. 12568/67. Heading B8A. Means for reading a binary code carried by a plurality of resiliently loaded coding elements, such as rollers 40, movable between operative (full lines, Figs. 2 and 4), and inoperative positions (dot-dash lines Fig. 4), comprises a plurality of mechanical reading devices, such as arms 70, engageable by the coding elements 40 when in the operative position, and movable thereby to control operation of a controlled device A in accordance with the coding, each of the reading devices 70 being resiliently loaded, and its movement by a respective element 40 being the result of the predominance over the force of its resilient loading 74, of the force exerted on the device 70 by the element 40 under the resilient loading 48 (Fig. 2) of the latter. The specification also describes a writing unit (Figs. 1 and 2) for setting up the code on the element 40. This forms the subject of Specification 1,206,732. The writing unit (Figs. 1 and 2) is carried by each conveyer carrier 45 and has five coding rollers 40 (one only visible in Fig. 2). The unit is subject to a setting pad or ramp (not shown) prior to coding, so that each roller 40 is set in a forward position (shown) limited by a stop 46 against the action of an over-centre spring. Each roller passes adjacent a respective coding member 51. Each of the latter is urged by a spring 54 to abut a stop 55. The lower end of a respective transmission rod 56 normally locks the member 51 in this position (Fig. 2), in which case the roller 40 (as the carrier 45 rises upwards) is deflected by the member 51 to a rearward position. If the rod 56 is raised, the member 51 is moved leftwards by the roller 40 (which remains undeflected due to the spring 48 being more powerful than the spring 54. The coding is defined by the rollers 40 which remain undeflected. The rods 56 are set according to the code by pressing on one of a number of spindles 62 numbered 1-32. Each spindle has six conical cam surfaces 67 adapted to engage pins 60 which may, or may not, project from one or both sides of each rod 56 in accordance with the code to be written by the pressing of the spindle concerned. If a pin 60 of any rod 56 is engaged in this way, the rod is cammed into a raised position (e.g. 56b in Fig. 1). This will permit the member 51 to be deflected inwardly and the corresponding roller 40 will not be deflected. A rod 56f similar to the rods 56 (but without an associated code-setting member 51) has pins 60 projecting from both sides at all levels, and serves to lock any spindle 62 in its inwardly-pressed position. Subsequent operation of any spindle 62 causes, by re-raising the rod 56f, the release of any previously set spindle. Each spindle 1 to 31 corresponds to 31 different codings. The spindle 32 is used as a cancel control so that by pressing it, all the spindles are brought back to their initial positions. The rods 56 may actuate a remote coding unit by interposing relays and electrical links between the rods 56 and members 51 (Fig. 6, not shown). The reading unit (Fig. 4) comprises five cam-shaped arms 70 each adapted to be deflected by a respective passing roller 40 left in the position shown in Fig. 2. Each arm 70 carries an arm 73 which carries either a screw 76 1  or a screw 76 2 . The screws 76 1  and 76 2  bear on a plate 77 which has an arm 79 adapted to be drawn in to engagement with the actuating member 81 of a switch A by a spring 82. The switch A controls the conveyer transfer operation. Each arm 70 is acted upon in an anticlockwise direction by a spring 74, there being a limit stop 75. When the rollers are set to a code corresponding to actuation of the switch A, those rollers 40 in a forward (full line in Figs. 2 and 4) position coact with arms 70 which carry only a screw 76<SP>1</SP>. The other arms carry screws 76<SP>2</SP>. As the rollers pass, each arm depressed by a roller 70, lifts off its respective screw 76, to permit the plate 77 to move clockwise the small amount governed by the setting of the screws 76<SP>2</SP> on the non-depressed arms 70. This amount of movement is sufficient to operate the switch A and thus initate the transfer operation of the conveyer.