Patent GB-852257-A (GB)
Title: Automatic positioning device for work-pieces on a conveyor system serving a number of machines
IPC: B65G47/26
Filed: 1957-07-26
Abstract: 852,257. Machine-tool details. REGIE NATIONALE DES USINES RENAULT. July 26, 1957 [Aug. 10, 1956], No. 23770/57. Class 83 (3). [Also in Group XXX], In an arrangement comprising a number of machines in a row for performing the same machining-operation on a series of cylinder blocks, a supply conveyer is arranged alongside the intake ends of the machines for feeding the cylinder blocks to the machines as required by the latter, and a discharge-conveyer is arranged alongside the discharge ends of the machines for receiving the cylinder-blocks after being operated on. A positioning- device is located opposite each machine on both the supply and discharge conveyers for controlling the movements of cylinder blocks on these conveyers, such that a block on the supply conveyer is stopped opposite a machine whenever that machine requires feeding, and a space is made vacant on the discharge conveyer opposite a machine whenever that machine requires to discharge a block. Four machines are supplied by a rollerway comprising rollers 10 and discharging on to a rollerway comprising rollers 47, Fig. 6. The positioning-device on the supply rollerway opposite each of the first three machines, Fig. 2, comprises a stop 23 pivoted at 25 for movement towards and away from operative position, in which it engages the front bearing 12 of a cylinder block C in a position for transfer to the machine. A stop 24 is similarly arranged to stop a following cylinder block C1 when in operative position. The two stops are interconnected for simultaneous movement by a link 27 connected between the stop 23 and a lever 20, and a further link 28 connected between the lever 20 and the stop 24. The lever 20 is pivoted at Q which, when stops 23, 24 are in .raised position, is on an axis which crosses-the axis of link'28. A counterweight 22 is carried by lever 20. A lever.29 is similarly mounted with respect to the link 27 at P. A plate 19 in the path of the bearing 12 is pivoted to..the levers 19, 20 at M, N, respectively, to form a parallelogram linkage. A switch 33 is positioned for actuation by a bell-crank 43, 35 in the path of the block C, and a switch 34 is mounted for actuation by a plate 36 on stop 24. The two switches are in series and also with a further switch (not shown), on the machine to be fed, the latter switch being closed when the machine requires an article. An electromagnet 31 is energized when all three switches are closed simultaneously. In operation, a block C passing stop 24, when the stops are retracted, first engages plate 19 by its bearing 12 and so raises the stops 23, 24, thereby closing switch 34; then, as the bearing 12 slides-along the top of plate 19, maintaining the stops raised, the block engages the arm 35 to close switch 33. If the machine requires a workpiece, the electromagnet 31 is energized and attracts its armature to engage a bolt 32 with the lower end of the lever 20 to lock the stops in raised position until the block has been transferred to the machine. When the block is received by the machine, the machine-operated switch is opened to break the circuit to the electromagnet and release. the bolt 32, so that the stops are retracted by the counterweight 22. If the machine does not require a cylinder block, the lever 20 remains free, and since the plate 19 is released before the bearing 12 reaches the stop 23, the stops 23, 24 are retracted and the blocks C and C1 pass on. A further switch. may be arranged in the space beyond the stop 23 and adapted, when actuated by a block, to energize the electromagnet 31 to prevent passage of the blocks. The positioning- device on the supply rollerway opposite the last machine, Fig. 5, is similar to that described above except that the stop 23 is replaced by a non-retractable stop 44, which is movable within limits about a pivot 45 so that, upon contact of the bearing 12 of a block with it, a switch 46 is closed. -Switch 46 is in series with a switch on the machine, the closing of both switches energizing the transfer means for that machine. The switches 33, 34 are omitted and the plate 191 is extended up to the stop 44, so that stop 241 remains raised until the block engaging stop 44 is transferred to the machine. The positioning-device on the discharge rollerway opposite the first machine, Fig. 6, comprises two feelers 49, 50, interconnected by a link 53 and adapted, when' either is depressed by a block deposited on the rollerway, to actuate a switch 55 to prevent transfer of a further block from the machine. The positioning-device on the discharge rollerway opposite the remaining machines, Figs. 7 and 8, comprises a series of feelers 56 interconnected by links 58 and adapted to actuate a switch 60 preventing transfer of a block from a machine if any of the feelers is engaged by a block, and in addition, a stop 64 pivoted at 65 for movement towards and away from operative position. A counterweighted lever 67 connected to the stop 64 by a link 66 normally holds the stop 64 in retracted position. A switch 63 is positioned for actuation by a feeler 61, and a further switch 72 is positioned for actuation by a plate 73 extending downwardly from the stop 64. The switches 63, 72 are connected in series and with contacts of switch 60, such that when all the switches are actuated simultaneously a solenoid 71 is energized. In operation, the bearing 12 of each passing block first engages the nose of the lever 67 and rotates it to the full-line position, in which the stop 64 is raised and switch .72 is closed. The feeler 61 is then engaged by the block to close the switch 63. If switch 60 is also closed, the solenoid 71 is energized and attracts its armature to engage a bolt 70 with the lower end of the lever 67 to lock the stop 64 in raised position. If, however, switch 60 is open, the lever 67 is free to fall when the bearing. 12 has released its nose, and the stop 64 is lowered, permitting the block to continue. Specifications 788,892 and 851,181 are referred to.