Patent GB-398014-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to conveyor systems
IPC: B65G51/42
Filed: 1932-07-28
Abstract: 398,014. Pneumatic dispatch apparatus. TELEPHON-APPARAT-FABRIK E. ZWIETUSCH & CO., GES., 6, Salzufer, Charlottenburg, Berlin. July 28, 1932, No. 21300. Convention date, Oct. 16, 1931. [Class 116.] In a carrier particularly for pneumatic dispatch apparatus having one or more adjustable members located at right-angles to its longitudinal axis, a plurality of units are disposed on each such member and act to close circuits controlling the destination of the carrier, the circuits closed depending upon the position of the member. The circuits are closed through the agency of " reading-devices " which are less in number than are the effective positions possible for the adjustable member. In one form, Fig. 4, the units are constituted by the portions of the conducting surface L between insulated portions J on a rotatable ring carried by the carrier ; the reading-devices are in the form of pins KSt moved into contact with the surface and connected to relays, the surface L being supplied with current from a wiper. In another form, Fig. 2, the units are formed of the raised portions of the ring which is provided with recesses V, pins St being moved to close contact arranged in the circuits. Further classes of units may be formed by varying the height of the raised portions, each pin being arranged to close either two or three contacts as the case may be. In the general case, the number of combinations in which the circuits may be closed, i.e. the number of effective positions of the setting-member is kn where k is the number of classes of circuitclosing units and n the number of reading- devices. In the form shown in Fig. 6, the pins St move in a common lever H to close contacts K ; they are separated by a distance corresponding to an angle of 22¢‹ at the centre of the ring and the recesses V are arranged so that the four possible ways in which the contacts K may be operated may be repeated four times during a complete revolution of the ring, the carrier being brought, at the reading point, into one of four alternative positions with respect to the reading devices, by an arrangement not described. In another form, in which the carrier may be sent to one of sixty-four stations arranged in eight groups of eight stations each, the carrier has three rings I, II, III, Fig. 8, and two pins of the series a .. f are provided for each ring and are connected to relays A .. F, Fig. 9. As shown, relays A, B, C determine the group to which the carrier is to be dispatched and relays D, E, F the stations in the selected group. The group-switches and station-switches are controlled by magnets such as G1, S1: and in order to prevent the energization of each magnet of the series of station-magnets at one setting, an operating- contact under the control of the appropriate group-magnet is provided in the circuits of the station-magnets. In this form, the switchmagnets controlling the switches for the last station of each group may be dispensed with, the switches being left permanently open. Another form is described in which the sixtyfour stations are arranged in a single group and the station-switch-magnets are operated over a contact pyramid of six relays. The rings on the carrier may be constituted by insulating rings provided with openings and rotating on a supporting body of conducting-material which may be the body of the carrier. Alternatively, the rings may be of conducting-material and rotate upon insulating-material. In the case of an oval carrier, the adjustable members are constituted by flexible bands having cut-out portions exposing a metal casing. Each flexible band may comprise a number of interconnected portions.