Patent GB-704575-A (GB)
Title: Article transfer apparatus
IPC: B65B21/18
Filed: 1951-11-19
Abstract: 704,575. Conveyers. BARRY - WEHMEILLER MACHINERY CO. Nov. 19, 1951 [Nov. 17, 1950], No. 27108/51. Class 78 (1) [Also in Groups XVII and XL (b)] In a machine for removing articles, such as bottles or cans from containers such as crates or cartons, the containers are fed by a roller conveyer 36 on to an endless conveyer 13 comprising spaced chains 17, the end rollers 37 being inclined to urge the containers against a guide plate 26 comprising a section 28 terminating adjacent to stop 27 and secured to a shaft 29 which is rotatable by a crank 30 actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 32 controlled by a solenoid-operated valve 60. As a container enters the machine on the conveyer 13 it interrupts a beam of light directed by a source 62 on to a photo-electric switch 61 and the valve 60 is energized to cause anti-clockwise rotation of the shaft whereby movement of the next container is arrested by the stop. The switch 61 also controls a solenoid operated valve 35 in the circuit of a hydraulic cylinder 59 which operates through rack and pinion gearing 54-57 to swing pivoted arms 51 and 52 upwardly to position the container centrally above an elevating platform 43 carried by the piston of a hydraulic cylinder 45 and in alignment with a carriage 16, movable transversely on tracks 89 and provided with a series of hydraulicallyoperated grippers 85 as described in Specification 669,286. As the arms swing upwardly, a detent 65 carried by the rack 57 engages the lever 66 of a switch 67 to energize a solenoid-operated valve 47 controlling the cylinder 45 whereby the platform is raised to move the container upwardly into engagement with a stripper frame 76 pivoted to vertical bars 82 slidable in guides 83, and the articles therein into engagement with the grippers 85. The switch 67 is adjustable along the conveyer bed 34 to suit containers of different lengths. The frame 76, Fig. 6, has a central opening 77, large enough to permit withdrawal of the articles, and comprises a cross-bar 78 adapted to engage with the partitions separating the articles in the container and curved flanges 79 adapted to fold bacx the Saps of a cardboard container. As the platform 43 reaches its upper position a dog 69 at the lower end of a guide 68 depending therefrom operates a switch 72, Fig. 5, controlling a solenoid-operated valve 86 to effect closure of the grippers 85. This initiates operation of time delay mechanism which causes reenergization of the valves 47 and 35 to lower the platform 43 and retract the arms 51, 52, thus restoring the switch 67 to its original position. The frame 76 descends by gravity, thus stripping the container from the articles suspended by the grippers, and its right hand bar 82 engages the lever 71 of a switch 73 to - cause energization of a solenoid-operated valve 100 controlling a hydraulic cylinder 93, the piston of which moves the carriage 16 to the right to position the articles over an endless belt conveyer 14. As the carriage moves to the right, the piston head 99 trips a switch 110 which re-energizes the valve 86 to 'cause opening of the grippers. The tracks 89 are formed with depressions 91, 92, whereby the carriage is lowered temporarily while the articles are deposited and then rises, to its normal level to clear the articles as they move towards the discharge, end of the conveyer 14. The conveyer and carriage move at the same speed so that there is no tendency for the articles to tip as they are deposited. The carriage remains in its extreme right hand position for a time predetermined by a timedelay device and the valve 100 is then reenergized to cause it to return to its left hand position above the platform 43. As the latter reaches its lowermost position, a detent 101 on the guide 68 engages the lever 70 to restore the switch 72 to its original position and the empty container is redeposited on the conveyer 13 to be carried out of the machine. As the rear end of the container clears a beam of light directed by a source 64 on to a second photoelectric switch 63, the valve 60 is energized to cause clockwise rotation of the shaft 29 whereby the next filled container is moved clear of the stop 27 for movement into the machine. Safety provisions. If the articles are prevented from leaving the conveyer 14, the beam of light directed on to a photo-electric switch 111 is interrupted for an abnormal period, and after a predetermined time the switch energizes the valve 60 to cause retraction of the plate 28 to prevent the next container from entering the machine. A limit switch 112 is mounted on the top frame of the machine so as to be opened by the carriage 16 on its initial movement to the right and closed when the carriage returns to its left hand position, the opening of the switch disabling the solenoid valve 47 so that it cannot operate unless the carriage is aligned with the platform 43. If the container or an article therein is too high to be accommodated in the machine, it engages a pivoted plate 115, adjustable angularly to suit containers-or articles of different heights, to effect closure of a limit switch which operates through a time-delay device to prevent operation of the arms 51, 52. If a container remains in the machine for more than a predetermined time as measured by the interruption of either of the light beams to the switches 61, 63, the valve 47 is energized through a time-delay relay to lower the platform 43. If a container is over-length, the detent 65 does not trip the switch 67 and after a time delay, the arms 51, 52 are retracted to allow the container to go through the machine without being unpacked.