Patent GB-814547-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to control systems for controlling the translation of articles
Inventor: COOPER ARTHUR HENRY
IPC: B65G47/00
Filed: 1956-06-14
Abstract: 814,547. Controlling the operation of points and switches on conveyer systems. ELECTRIC & MUSICAL INDUSTRIES Ltd. June 3, 1957 [June 14, 1956], No. 18403/56. Class 104 (1). A control system for controlling the movement of articles via a common path having a junction with a plurality of other paths along which the articles can pass comprises data storages including stores individual to the common path and to each of the plurality of the other paths for storing information in respect of each article, means whereby when a particular article is moved from one path via a junction to another path a signal is transmitted to the data storages to cause information relating the particular article to be read from the data store individual to the path occupied by the particular article and means for transferring information relating to the last mentioned article to a store individual to the path to which the article is to be or has been moved via the junction. In the schematic arrangement shown in Fig. 1 a system of conveyers comprises an input conveyer 1, branch conveyers 2, 3 and an output conveyer 4. A mechanical switch 5 is provided at the junction between conveyers 1, 2 and 3 and a similar switch 6 is also provided between conveyers 2, 3 and 4. A treating or process zone 7 is provided on conveyer 2 and treating or process zones 8, 9 and 10 on conveyer 3. The treatment or process applied in the zone 9 being one of several alternatives. Individual data stores 11, 12, 13 and 14 such as punched paper tape, magnetic tape, a magnetic drum which provides a plurality of endless storage tracks around its peripheral surface or a static magnetic core matric, may be associated respectively with conveyers 1, 2, 3 and 4. The tape 15 of store 11 co-operates with a perforator 16 and a reader 17, the tape 18 of the store 12 co-operates with a perforator 19 and a reader 20, the tape 21 of store 13 co-operates with a perforator 22 and two spaced readers 23, 24 and the tape 25 of store 14 co-operates with the perforator 26 and the reader 27. An electric switch 28 closed by the arrival of a vehicle or trolley on conveyer 1 is arranged near the switch 5. Similar'switches 29, 30 are provided at the outlet ends of the conveyers 2 and 3 and a further switch 31 is positioned along the conveyer 3 at the entrance to zone 9. The apparatus operates in the following manner. As each vehicle or trolley carrying an article to be processed or treated, is fed to the conveyer 1 coded information relating thereto is read from a master programme tape and fed to a perforator 16 which enters the information on the tape 15. On arrival of the vehicle at the position of the switch 28 the switch 28 is closed to energize the reader 17 whereby the tape is stepped along until the perforations relating to the vehicle at the position of switch 28 is read and the information so read is passed to a selector unit 32 which unit 32 may include one or several uniselector units. The unit 32 operates the switch 5 in accordance with the information received. If the article carried by the vehicle is to proceed to zone 7 where the article is processed or treated the unit 32 causes the switch 5 to direct the vehicle on to the conveyer 2 and the balance of information, i.e. less the information regarding the switch 5, is passed to the perforator 19 to perforate the information on to the tape 18. After processing or treatment in the zone 7 the article is coupled to the vehicle and the vehicle proceeds along the conveyer 2 where it causes a switch 29 to close. A reader 20 energized on the closure of the switch 29 reads the information contained on the tape 18 and passes the information to a selector unit 34 which sets the switch 6 to allow the vehicle to pass from the conveyer 2 to the conveyer 4 and transmits the balance of information relating to the vehicle and article carried thereby to a perforator 26 which punches the information on tape 25. When the article leaves the conveyer 4 a reader 27 is energized and the information may be passed to another conveyer system or alternatively the information may be transcribed and printed to provide a permanent record of the output from the conveyer 4. If the articles carried by the vehicle on conveyer 1 are to be routed along conveyer 3 the reader 17 on being energized by the closure of the switch 28 passes the information from the tape 15 to the unit 32 which unit 32 causes the switch 5 to direct the vehicle on to the conveyer 3 and passes the balance of the information to a perforator 22 which punches the information on to the tape 21. The vehicle then passes to zone 8 where the article carried thereby is processed or treated and then arrives at a position where it closes a switch 31. The closure of switch 31 energizes a reader 23 which reads information from tape 21 regarding the processes and treatments to be carried out in zone 9 and this information is passed to an indicator 33. The indicator 33 may give visual or audible indication to the operator or operators of the information regarding the various processes or treatments to be effected on the article on zone 9. Alternatively the indicator 33 may be coupled to or form part of automatic mechanism or machinery which effects the one or more various or alternative processes or treatments. On leaving the zone 9 the vehicle passes through a zone 10 and thence to a point where switch 30 is actuated. The switch 30 on being closed energizes a reader 24 which passes information to a selector unit 34 which actuates a switch 6 to direct the vehicle on to conveyer 4 and passes the balance of information to the perforator 26. The data stores may be of the form of a tape unit shown in Fig. 2. The paper tape 35 is initially wound on a supply reel 36 and passes out of the reel holder 37 through an aperture 38 and around guide rollers 39, 40 to a conventional teletype perforating unit 41. The tape 35 then passes through a flanged guide 43 to a tape reservoir 44 provided with a transparent cover 45. The tension in tape 35 is monitored and for this purpose contacts the upturned end of a wire 46 connected to an electric switch 47 so that if the tape 35 becomes taut the switch 47 is actuated to give a visual or audible warning to enable the entire tape unit to be de-energized. The tape 35 on leaving the reservoir 44 passes through a flanged guide 48 to a conventional tele-type reader 49 and thence round a roller 50 to a reel 51. If more than one reader 49 is included in the unit further reservoirs 44 will be required between each additional reader. In a factory or other industrial area in which large numbers of articles are to be treated, processed, or assembled a central control room or simulator having the data stores and the ancillary equipment (Fig. 3, not shown) may be provided so that a supervisor can observe the tapes and the blocks of perforations and if a breakdown occurs along any of the conveyers the routing instructions can be altered by cutting out tapes or blocks of perforations from a tape or splicing in other blocks or series of blocks of perforations. An example of a simple system of conveyers for a paint-shop of a car factory is shown in Fig. 4. In this arrangement car bodies to be painted arrive on a main conveyer 60 which feeds a pair of branch conveyers 61, 62 on which are situated spray booths 63, 64. The branch conveyers 61, 62 feed further pairs of branch conveyers 65, 66, 67, 68 on which are situated drying ovens 69, 70, 71 and 72. The branch conveyers 65, 66, 67 and 68 feed a single output conveyer 73 which normally feeds a further section of the factory but during the changeover in shift or a breakdown in the factory feeds or is fed from a subsidiary conveyer 74. Specifications 701,610, 722,996, 736,587 and 736,994 are referred to.