Patent GB-987286-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to conveyer apparatus
IPC: B65G47/48
Filed: 1962-02-16
Abstract: 987,286. Conveyer systems. J. NECKERMANN, [trading as NECKERMANN VERSAND KOMM.-GES]. Feb. 16, 1962 [Feb. 18, 1961; June 3, 1961], No. 6077/62. Heading B7L. In a conveyer apparatus, Fig. 7, conveyer units are mounted one behind the other on an endless track, and are arranged in two or more sets of equal number, the units being driven round the track at equal speeds, lay-by stations being provided on the track for receiving and bringing to rest a conveyer unit from each set, destination control means also being provided to associate each conveyer unit of each set with a different lay-by station or stations, the destination control means controlling switchover means at each lay-by station to permit only entry of an associated conveyer unit into the lay-by station, each lay-by station having transfer means to effect return of a conveyer unit in the station to the endless track simultaneously with the entry into the station of another associated conveyer unit. The standing time of each conveyer unit in an associated station is dependent on the speed of movement of the conveyer units, the number of units in each set, and on the spacings between the units of each set and between adjacent sets. Three sets of four conveyer units are shown in Fig. 7, there being uniform spacings between the units in each set and uniform but different spacings between each set. Four lay-by stations I, II, III, IV are shown and the units A1, B1, C1 are associated with and will enter only the station I, and so on. A lay-by station 3 is shown in Fig. 2 with a conveyer unit 2, driven by an endless chain 1 approaching the station. A switch-over means 8 is provided, and a driving chain 10 driven from the chain 1 by a gearwheel 13 and through a clutch mechanism 9 is associated with the station 3. Contacts 6 carried by the conveyer unit 2 will operate contacts 7 fixed to the track if the unit 2 is associated with the station 3, otherwise the unit 2 will pass along the endless track. If the contacts 7 are operated the switch-over means 8 is moved to allow the conveyer unit 2 to enter the lay-by station 3, and the clutch mechanism 9 is operated to drive the chain 10 so that the unit 2 will be moved into the station 3. A conveyer unit already present in the station 3 will simultaneously be moved by the chain 10, past a point 12, which is spring loaded to the position shown in Fig. 2, into engagement with the chain 1. The chain 10 is stopped with the conveyer unit 2 in the station 3. Each conveyer unit 2 comprising an article carrier is driven along a track 19, Fig. 5, by coupling members 24 dependant from a chain 18, which is suspended from a track 15, the members 24 engaging with latch members 25 carried on frame members 21 of each unit 2. A series of contacts 22 is arranged on each member 21 and one of these contacts comprises the contacts 6 of Fig. 2, which engage with the fixed contacts 7. Only if the contact 6 is at the same level as the contact 7 will the conveyer unit 2 be directed into the associated lay-by station. Thus as the three sets of conveyer units shown in Fig. 7 are moved round the track the unit A1 will enter the lay-by station I, and will remain there until displaced by the unit B1, and similarly for the units A2, A3, and A4. The conveyer system described may be modified to operate two separate conveyer systems if required. In Fig. 8 a conveyer unit 2 and lay-by stations 3, 3a are shown for use as described above. A lay-by station 31 is also provided, this preferably being able to accommodate more than one conveyer unit. Additional conveyer units 30 are provided and these may be interposed between the units of a set of the previously described system or between the sets of units, the units 30 each carrying a contact 32 forming one of a series, as 22, Fig. 5. If the contact 32 engages a contact 33, the unit 30 is moved into the station 31 by a chain 35, the unit 30 moving other units 30 along until the leading unit is engaged by a chain 37 which moves it back into engagement with the chain 1. The chain 37 may operate continuously or may be actuated by the leading unit 30 in the station or by a hand push button. The height of the contacts 32 on the units 30 is adjustable by means of a hand wheel (not shown) so that any particular unit may at will be directed into or past the station 31. Several stations 31 may be provided with contacts 33 at different heights so that by adjustment of the contacts 32 a unit 30 may be directed into a particular station 31. The lay-by stations 3 may alternatively be provided with two chains, as 35, 37, Fig. 8, in place of the single endless driving chain 10, and in place of the driving chains the conveyer units may be driven by electric motors fitted to each unit. Separate, but synchronously driven, driving means may be provided for the units 2 and 30 as an alternative to the single chain 1.