Patent GB-1144776-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to article sorting equipment
Inventor: HEWITT MAURICE CHARLES PATON
IPC: B65G47/78
Filed: 1965-11-17
Abstract: 1,144,776. Conveying and sorting. VICKERS Ltd. 31 Jan., 1967 [17 Nov., 1965], No. 48935/65. Heading B8A. A barrier for preventing articles leaving the conveyer of sorting equipment has gates which permit the articles to pass through the barrier at different stations, each gate being arranged to close and open in the direction in which the conveyer conveys articles past the gate. The conveyer speed is such that an article reaching the gate as the gate commences to close does not pass through the barrier. An article reaching the gate as the gate commences to open passes through the barrier. In Figs. 1, 2, a gate G is provided in a barrier 4 which normally retains articles on a tilted conveyer belt 5, the gate consisting of segments 1A, 1B of a disc 1. The disc is rotatable to a position where the gap in the barrier is closed by one of the segments or to a position where both segments are clear of the gap, and the gap is open. A wheel 3 in contact with the belt 5 drives the disc 1 when a solenoid 11 is operated. Pins' 16 on the wheel 3 co-operate with a switch 13 for energizing the solenoid 11. A mechanism, Figs. 3, 4, at a selecting station upstream of the gates includes a pin wheel for actuating a switch 36 connected across the switch 13. When an operator actuates the appropriate push-button 33 the switch 36 is temporarily closed and the disc 1 begins to move in the direction 1A, i.e. the same as that 5A of the belt 5. Switch 13 then closes after which switch 36 opens. The disc continues to move to its open position, the article falls through the gap in the barrier 4 and the disc ceases to move when a further pin 16 on the wheel 3 causes switch 13 to open. When the operator operates a further button 33 for a second parcel an interlock device 43 ensures that, upon initiating the opening movement of a second gate, the closing of the gate previously selected is initiated. Assuming the second article is to leave the conveyer at a gate downstream of the first operated gate, this article will not fall through the closing first gate since the disc moves to its closed position at the same speed, and in the same direction as the belt 5 moves. In a modification (Figs. 5, 6, not shown) the gate is composed of five fingers (48-50<SP>1</SP>) which move in turn to their open or closed position. In Figs. 7-9 (not shown) the barrier is made up of movable members forming a continuous series of side-by-side gates, the arrangement providing a greater number of stations at which the articles can leave the conveyer. A further construction (Fig. 12, not shown) comprises side-by-side gates which are of different sizes. In another form, the conveyer is a circular table mounted about a vertical axis and having a fixed castellated barrier around its periphery, the gaps each being closed by a gate. Selecting mechanism other than that employing pin wheels may be used, e.g. a drum having grooves into which steel balls are inserted by the operator. Sensing devices, e.g. photoelectric cells, operated by identifying marks on the articles may cause a particular gate to open. Two discs, similar to the disc 1 in Fig. 2, may be mounted on concentric shafts, each disc performing a closing and opening movement before the other disc performs its closing and opening movement. The postal sorting of packages and parcels is specified.