Patent GB-528189-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to distributing apparatus
IPC: B65G17/36
Filed: 1939-04-19
Abstract: 528,189. Conveyers. SOVEX, Ltd., CADMAN, H. W., and KNIGHT, A. J. April 19, 1939, No. 11833. [Class 78 (i)] Relates to conveyer distributing - apparatus, whereby a receptacle is delivered to a system of conveyers and elevators and delivered to a selected destination by operating a corresponding pushbutton when it starts. Fig. 1 shows a receiving and despatching station d with its push-button board a, charging and discharging roller conveyers E, F, an elevator A with a series of stations on both up and down runs, horizontal forward and return conveyers in the basement, an intermediate transfer conveyer D, and a second elevator B with stations on both runs. Fig. 2 shows one of the stations. The chains 10 are guided in angle irons 13 and carry flat horizontal trays which are suspended therefrom by hangers 17 and are guided by rollers 15 engaging vertical tracks 16. The receptacles are charged into the path of these trays and are picked up in passing during the upward run. When a receptacle is placed upon the forwardly-sloping roller feed table, it runs forward by gravity until held up by the abutments 29, on sliding members 22. Crankdriven mechanism 27, 28, 23, 25, 30, working in timed relation with the elevator, projects the members 22 into the dotted line position with the receptacle in register with the path of the trays. The receiving mechanism is similar, but the roller delivery-table slopes away from the elevator and works in the opposite sense to the charging-apparatus. Figs 3 and 4 show the apparatus in the basement for transferring the receptacles to and from the conveyers C. As each receptacle arrives at the foot of the elevator it is picked up by a driven belt 31 and transferred on to rollers 34 on a pivoted arm 35 supported by a cam 38 which eventually lowers it on to the conveyer 40a running at right angles to those previously mentioned and feeding the receptacle on to another roller table leading to the out-going main belt conveyer. The device for feeding incoming receptacles from the in-coming main belt conveyer to the elevator is generally similar to that described for station d, but the receptacles are moved on a carriage 42 operated from the crank mechanism 28 through the levers 23. Fig. 3 also shows the means for delivering from the intermediate transfer conveyer D to the second elevator B. The conveyer D delivers to a group of rollers 45 driven by friction with an endless-belt 46. A second group of rollers 47 driven by a belt 48 is separated from the first by a pivoted roller 52 raised and lowered electro-magnetically in timed relation to 'form a stop or a runway as may be necessary. Fig. 5 shows the switchmechanism for feeding receptacles to the elevator. A self-closing switch f on the elevator is opened by the roller 56 on the moving tray 14 when this roller is rocked about the pivot 57 into register with it by a receptacle on the tray. A second self-opening switch e is closed by the roller 55. On the roller platform the self-opening switch h is closed by the lowermost receptacle x and the selfclosing switch k is held open by the following receptacle. In operation, on the approach of a rising tray 14, the switch e is closed and, in the absence of a receptacle on the tray, switch f remains closed and the charging- mechanism is set in operation. The commencement of the charging movement of the lever 23, previously described, allows a switch l to close and establish an independent circuit for the motor. It also allows a spring s<SP>1</SP> to raise the pivoted stop S into the path of the second receptacle. Fig. 7 shows an initial selection and storage means forming part of the buttonactuated mechanism controlling the selective destination of the receptacles. A fixed spindle 59 carries (1) a sleeve on which are pinned a series of rings 63 having axially-moving normally-projecting rings of studs 65 ; (2) a duplex escapement wheel 62 and (3) a ratchet wheel 64. Arms 68, 69, mounted to revolve on the shaft 59, carry an assemblage of levers and electromagnets 82<SP>1</SP>. A clock spring 71 biasses the movement of the arms in one direction. Pressure of a particular button at the charging station energizes the corresponding solenoid 821, Fig. 8, which swings the loose lever 80 and causes the end 83 to depress a stud 65. The same motion causes the stop 79 to swing the lever 75 and with it the shaft 73. This swings the escapement pawl 74, Fig. 10, and allows the sleeve 61 to turn until the lower beak of the pawl engages a tooth on the wheel 62. At this stage a solenoid 87, Fig. 11, is deenergized so that the shaft 73 is locked by the latch 86 engaging the stop in the cam 85. In this rotated position, the ends 83 of the loose levers 80 pass between the studs so that the pressing of additional buttons before the first call has been complied with is ineffectual. As soon as the receptacle has been received by the conveyer, a solenoid 88, Fig. 7 is operated to turn the ratchet wheel 64 and restore the sleeve 61 to the original position. This causes the depressed stud to close a contact which completes a circuit through a secondary selection mechanism which is generally similar to that described, and which controls the final destination of the receptacles. A series of receptacles may be placed on the despatching platform in turn and a corresponding series of buttons pressed, each in turn being taken up by the elevator as an empty tray arrives and being controlled as to destination by the previously-pressed button.