Patent GB-191112027-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Means for Distributing Parcels and the like.
IPC: B61L23/00
Filed: 1911-05-18
Granted: 1912-03-07
Abstract: 12,027. Seaman, A. G., Osborne, S., Cox, H. A., Gattie, A. W., and New Transport Co. May 18. Mechanical dispatch apparatus; letters, tradesmen's orders, and the like, systems of transmitting and delivering.-Relates to the construction and operation of the roller gear for transferring trays between moving carriages or truckers, and fixed bays or platforms or other 'truckers ' in the system for sorting and distributing goods in clearing-houses and like places described in Specification 17,344/08. Fig. 1 shows the general arrangement of the apparatus as applied to a ' trucker ' which in the present instance is driven by an electric motor 10 connected by belt gearing to the wheel 8. Two transfer rollers 55 are provided, each being divided as shown in Fig 4, so that one part is surrounded by a fixed coil 58 serving to magnetize the roiler Driving-means for the rollers. The rotation of the rollers is derived from a pivoted arm 22 engaging a cam similar to the cam 75, mounted upon the platform or other trucker between which the transfer is to be effected. The shaft 14 of the arm 22 carries a bevel-wheel 24<b> engaging bevel-wheels 24<a> loose on an horizontal shaft 25 and adapted to be driven from a sliding clutch member 26 fast on the shaft. Each end of the shaft 25 carries a bevel-wheel 25<a> gearing with a bevel-wheel 39 slidably keyed on a vertically movable spindle 40 carrying at its upper end a dished bevel-wheel 45 gearing with a bevelwheel fast on the shaft 46 carrying the roller 55. The direction of rotation of the rollers 55 is determined by the direction of the displacement of the clutch member 26. The fork for displacing the clutch member 26 is operated by a plunger moving in a cylinder at each end, the admission to these cylinders being controlled by a pair of electromagnetically-actuated valves. Mounting the rollers. The spindle 46 carrying the roller 55 is mounted upon a fork 48 integral with a sleeve 49 mounted in a housing 50. The vertical movement of the roller 55 to permit it to engage the tray is effected by a fork 61 engaging a groove 59 in the sleeve 49. The fork 61, which is pivoted on a pin 63. is integral with a lever 62 connected by a link 76 to a plunger moving in a cylinder 78. Stops for retaining the tray in position are provided, and these are connected to the levers 62 so as to be retracted when the rollers 55 are raised to displace or receive the tray. In order that the rollers may be slued into the proper direction for effecting the transfer, a toothed sector 67 is mounted on the sleeve 49, which is engaged by a rack carried by a plunger 69 moving at each end in a compressed-air cylinder controlled by valves 79. These cylinders are arranged to open ports to pipes 71<a> leading to the cylinders 78, so that the roller is raised subsequently to the turning operation. The plunger 69 may be operated by electro-magnets or motors or by hand or in a similar manner to the clutch member 26. The valves 79 and the valves for operating the clutch member 26 may be regulated by the control system described in Specification 17,344/08, so that a tray is only deposited at a selected bay or platform. The clutch member 26 may also be arranged to be operated by hand.