Patent GB-930215-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to apparatus for automatically removing articles from conveyors
IPC: B65B35/40
Filed: 1961-02-07
Abstract: 930,215. Moulding machine discharge apparatus. BAKER PERKINS HOLDINGS Ltd., and ANCIENS ETABLISSEMENTS A. SAVY JEANJEAN CIE. Feb. 7, 1961 [May 14, 1960], No. 4507/61. Class 87(2). [Also in Group XXX] Apparatus for the automatic discharge of moulded articles e.g. of chocolate, disposed in transverse rows on plates Pi, P 2 , P 3 , moved by conveyer chains 1, comprises an arm 12 provided at its free end with a lateral pusher member 14, which arm is rockably mounted about a horizontal axis V-V, Fig. 2, on a trunnion 10 rotatably mounted about a vertical axis U-U, Fig. 3, on a frame 6 located adjacent the conveyer, the trunnion and arm being combined with operating means driven by the conveyer and arranged to allow the trunnion and arm assembly to be pivoted about the axis U-U and the arm to be rocked about the axis V-V, whereby the pusher member 14 moves in an arcuate path above the conveyer in an operative direction at such a speed that it removes a transverse row of articles from the conveyer and thereafter is movable in an inoperative return direction at a higher level to prelude further removal of articles. Arms 16 provided on each side of the arm 12 are pivotally connected to the pusher member 14 and are pivotally mounted in forks 17, in turn rotatably mounted on a plate 18 fixed to the trunnion 10. These arms ensure that as the trunnion is rotated about the axis U-U the face 15 of the pusher 14 remains parallel to the direction of movement f<SP>1</SP> of the plates P. The conveyer chains 1 are driven by gear-wheels mounted on a shaft 4, and the chains in turn drive the discharge apparatus through gear-wheels 21 fixed to a shaft 22 mounted above the chains. The shaft 22 drives a cam-shaft 29 through bevel gearing 28 and a dog clutch 24, 25 operated by a solenoid 27 in any desired sequence. Cams 30, 31 are mounted on the cam-shaft 29 and operate the arm 12. The cam 30 controls the movement of the pusher 14 in the desired arcuate path to and fro over the conveyer through a roller 29, Fig. 3, fixed to a lever 33 pivoted at 34 and pivotally connected to a link 36 at 37, the link being connected to the arm 12 by a universal joint 38. A spring 35 holds the roller 29 against the cam 30. The cam 31 controls vertical movement of the pusher 14 through a roller 39 fixed to a shaft 40 pivoted at 41 and acting on a roller 42 fixed to a vertically reciprocable member 43 fitted with a plate 44 on which rests a roller 45 fixed to the arm 12. Upward movement of the member 43 against gravity then raises the pusher 14 clear of the articles on the plates P. In operation the pusher 14 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 across the plate P 2  to remove a transverse row of articles thereon into a shoot (not shown) the cam 31 being disposed to raise the pusher 14 on the return stroke to the position shown in Fig. 2, above the articles remaining on the plate. The apparatus shown is arranged to remove the first row of articles from each plate and identical apparatuses are used to remove succeeding rows.