Patent GB-895317-A (GB)
Title: Conveyor systems
Inventor: FREEMAN ALFRED
IPC: B61B10/04
Filed: 1959-08-20
Abstract: 895,317. Conveyer systems. FREEMAN (ENGINEERS) Ltd., A., and FREEMAN, A. Nov. 21, 1960 [Aug. 20, 1959], No. 28507/59. Class 104 (2). In a conveyer system in which carriages 15 are propelled along a track 1 by a separate cable 4 supported by wheels 8 running along guides 1 and 3 parallel to the track 1, the cable 4 is provided at intervals along its length with a pivotable arm 9 which is engageable in a recess 25 provided in each of the carriages 15 and the carriages 15 are equipped at their rear ends with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 27 which is automatically brought into operation on the movement of one carriage up to the carriage which precedes it along a system to disengage the coupling arm 9, and any subsequent oncoming arms 9, from engagement in the recess 25 in the first-mentioned carriage. The first carriage 15 is brought to a stop, Fig. 1, by fixed members 23 provided with a bent over forwardly and downwardly inclined top portion 24 which engages a pin 12 provided on the arm 9 to disengage the pin 12 from the slot 25 in the carriage 15. The carriages 15 are provided with flanged rollers 16, rotatable about a horizontal axis, which rim on the top of the rail 1 and with rollers 18, rotatable about a vertical axis, which bear against the side of brackets 2 attached to the rail 1. The stranded cable 4 is mounted on pins 7 attached to a plate 6 provided with flanged wheels 8 running between the rail 1 and the rail 3 attached to the bracket 2. In an alternative arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the carriages 15 carry a plate 33 slidably mounted on pins 31 engaging slots 32 therein. The plate 33 is provided with a downwardly projecting portion 35 having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined edge 36. The slide 33 in the inoperative position projects beyond the front of the carriage on which it is mounted and when its front portion 34 engages a preceding carriage the slide 33 is pushed rearwardly and the inclined edge 36 pivots the coupling arm 9 out of engagement with the driving recess 29 and also prevents any following arms 9 from engaging the recess 29. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7, carriages may be held in a particular zone for timed period. In this arrangement a member 38, similar to and performing the same function as the fixed member 23 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, is supported by a rod 39 forming the core of a solenoid 40. Articulated to the rod 39 is an arm 44 which rotates about a fulcrum 45 and carries a further member 46 which is similar to member 38. In this arrangement a carriage 42 is held for a time period in the zone 37 by the member 38. The preceding carriage 41 actuates a switch 49 to operate a relay 48 which in turn operates a timer 47. After a predetermined time a pulse is sent to the solenoid 40 to raise the member 38 to release the carriage 42 and to lower the member 46 in the zone 37 and to stop carriages 43 entering the zone 37. When the carriage 42 reaches the position of the carriage 41 it operates the switch 49, the member 38 is lowered to the operative position and the process is repeated. Specification 665,076 is referred to.