Patent GB-387930-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to conveyor systems
IPC: B65G51/42
Filed: 1932-07-22
Abstract: 387,930. Pneumatic dispatchapparatus. TELEPHON-APPARATFABRIK E. ZWEITUSCH & CO., GES., 6, Salzufer, Charlottenburg, Berlin. July 22, 1932, No. 20747. Convention date, Jan. 15. [Class 116.] In a carrier for use in electrically-controlled tubular conveyer systems, having contactmembers upon its outer surface which may be connected together in various combinations to define the destination of the carrier, the contact-members of a particular group are connected in the desired combinations bv the movement of a single setting-member. The principle underlying the invention is illustrated in Fig. 6, in which pins a1 .. a4 may be interconnected in sixteen different combinations as a setting-member k having interconnected contact segments s1 .. s4 is moved one-sixteenth of a revolution at a time. The number of arrangements possible with n pins is 2n. In one form, Fig. 8, in which the carrier may be dispatched to one of sixty-four stations arranged in eight groups of eight stations each, the carrier is provided with contact-rings r1 .. r6, arranged in two groups of three, which are set by means of members k1, k2 to determine respectively the particular group of stations and the individual station of that group for which the carrier is destined. The rings r1 .. r6 are connected to contact pins over which move the members k1, k2, those engaged by the member k2 being nearer the axis of the carrier than those engaged by the member k1. Before each group-switch the carrier passes through a " reading-point " where the rings are engaged by contacts f<1> .. f<6> and the members k1, k2 are earthed by a contact f7. The contact u is closed on the arrival of a carrier and providing the setting of the member k1 is such as to complete the necessary circuits, the contacts x1, x2, x3 are closed to energize the group-switch-magnet Q8, and the receiving-switch-magnet corresponding to the setting of the member k2 is also energized through the closing of the appropriate contacts by the relays M, N, O. The group and station switch magnets are maintained energized by means of a holding-circuit which is opened as the carrier leaves the tube. One " reading- point " may be provided in front of a number of group-switches. In another form, Fig. 11, the setting member k is arranged to combine rings r1 .. r4 in pairs ; the rings are so disposed that the combinations are comprised by pairs of rings at different distances apart, the distances separating the rings being in the ratio 1 : 3 : 2. The number of combinations possible with n rings is n(n-1)/2. Constructions of setting- members for use with various arrangements of contact-pins are described, one ring in certain cases being connected to a plurality of interconnected contact-pins, as in Fig. 14, where the ring r4 is connected to the pins a41, a42. Further, a contact segment such as s1, Fig. 12, may be provided with a tongue z serving to engage, in a certain setting, with a pin a1 located in a special position with respect to the axis of the carrier. In the construction of setting-member shown in Fig. 13, the arrangements shown in Figs. 12 and 14 are used in conjunction, pins a41, a42, a43 being connected to the ring r4 and the segment s having a tongue z. In all forms, the angle subtended at the axis of the carrier by adjacent contact-pins differs from the angle between consecutiveswitching positions. In a further form, Figs. 18 and 19, the carrier is provided with a series of pairs of rings g1, g2, g3, Fig. 19, the individual rings of certain pairs being interconnected when a shaped setting-member acts as a cam to depress pins 81, 82,83. At the "reading-point" the rings contact with members f, to complete the circuit to a relay R if the arrangement of the members f corresponds to the setting of the rings.