Patent GB-408995-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to endless elevators and conveyors
IPC: B65G47/48
Filed: 1932-08-20
Abstract: 408,995. Endless-chain elevators. PRESLAND, C. W., Dumsey Point, Shepperton-on-Thames. Aug. 20, 1932, No. 23410. [Class 78 (i).] An endless elevator or conveyer comprises one or more carriers A, one or more loading devices B, and one or more unloading devices 41, the carrier itself being provided with means whereby the loading and unloading devices are automatically actuated. As shown, each carrier A has a bottom consisting of a set of parallel teeth 7b, and is secured at diagonally opposite corners to upwardly moving chains 1, 2, the remaining corners carrying shoes 9, 11 which run on rails 10, 12. The chains 1, 2 pass over sheaves at the top of the apparatus, and the carriers are guided so that their shoes 9, 11 engage rails 10a, 12<a> on the downward run, shown to the right of Fig. 1 ; at the end of the downward run the chains pass over lower sheaves and the carriers are guided back to the upward run. Pivoted to the side of each carrier is an arm 16 carrying rollers 17, 18, and between each pair of teeth 7<b> is a spring- controlled bell crank 22, 22<a>, Fig. 12. The loading devices B, of which a number are disposed at various positions on the upward run, are mounted on frames 25 pivoted at 26<a>, and each comprises a set of parallel teeth 24b. Associated with each loading station is a pointer which may be moved along a rod 31 by a handle 33 to various numbered positions on a scale 30 corresponding to various unloading stations on the downward run, thus moving a selector arm (not shown) to a position beneath one of the teeth 24b, beyond the end of which it extends. In order to gain access to a loading device B, a safety panel (not shown) must be moved, and this actuates a switch to intercept the roller 17 of the next upwardly moving empty carrier and bring this roller into engagement with a rail 28 on the loading device, thus swinging the latter into the path of the carrier so that the teeth 7<b> thereof pass between the teeth 24b of the loading device and remove the articles therefrom. Simultaneously the selector arm, according to its position, engages one of the bell cranks 22, 22<a> and moves it into the dotted position, Fig. 12. As the roller 17 leaves the rail 28, the roller 18 engages a rail 29, which allows the loading device to return by gravity to its initial position, and also swings the arm 16 into a vertical position to prevent the carrier from engaging further loading devices. Each unloading device 41 comprises teeth 41<a> and is secured to a rock shaft 42<b> connected through linkwork 42<a>, 44 to a bar 47 capable of vertical reciprocation between guides 49. The bar 47 carries a tongue 50 so positioned that it will be engaged by the rearwardly projecting arm 22<a> of a bell crank on one of the carriers which has been set to operate that particular unloading station, the bar 47 thus being moved downwardly and swinging the unloading device into the path of the carrier to remove the goods E therefrom. Means are provided to reset the arms 16 and bell cranks 22, 22<a> before the carrier again enters the upward run. Various safety devices may be incorporated.