Patent GB-1190251-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Conveyor Systems
Inventor: KLAMP PAUL
IPC: B61B10/02
Filed: 1967-05-20
Abstract: 1,190,251. Conveyer systems. MECHANICAL HANDLING SYSTEMS, Inc. 20 May, 1967, No. 23527/67. Heading B7L. In a power and free conveyer system comprising a continuously driven main line conveyer 12, Fig. 1, a branch line 14 merging with the main line 12 and a transfer conveyer 13, driven by and in synchronism with, the main conveyer 12, a control system is provided to control the transfer of carriers C from the line 14 to the main line 12 by the transfer conveyer 13, the control system comprising holding means 61, 65, Fig. 3, to hold a carrier C in a first position on the line 14, out of the path of the conveyer 13; first detecting means 66, 67 adapted to sense the presence of the carrier at the first position; second detecting means 69 adapted to sense that a free carrier position is available on the main line 12; a mechanism 10 for advancing the carrier C to a second position which is in the path of the transfer conveyer 13, the mechanism 10 only being actuated when a carrier is present at the first position and a free carrier position is available on the line 12. A spring 70 and a hold back dog (72), Fig. 5 (not shown), hold the carrier in the second position and third detecting means 71 are adapted to sense the approach of a pusher member 33, Figs. 2 to 4, on the conveyer 13, and to release the carrier C from the second position. Each carrier comprises front and rear trolleys 15, 20 running, by means of wheels 18, 21, between spaced tracks 19, the trolleys being pivotally connected at 23, 24, to a work load bar 22 provided with known front and rear accumulation members 25, 26. The bar 22, also carries a transverse stop bar 27. The front trolley 15 has a hinged pusher dog 16 and a hold back dog 17 for co-operation with dogs depending from the drive chains of the conveyers. The transfer conveyer has a track 28, a slave chain 29 provided with teeth 31, driven in known manner from the main conveyer chain, and depending trolley pusher dogs 33 to co-operate with the dogs 16. The mechanism 10 comprises an air pressure operated cylinder 37, pivoted to the tracks 19 at brackets 54 and having a piston-rod 52. The latter is connected to the vertical arm 50 of a bell crank 48 pivoted at 47 to a carriage plate 42. The substantially horizontal arm 49 of the bell crank 48 has a vertical slot 57 engaging a stud 58 on the plate 42, and a lateral extension 65. The plate 42 is secured on a slide 41 movable, by the piston-rod and bell crank, on a fixed shaft 39, between the first position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, and the second position shown in dotted lines. In the latter position the slide 41 abuts the spring 70. The crank extension 65 and a pusher dog 61 pivoted to the plate 42 at 60, constitute the holding means which engage on opposite sides of the cross-bar 27. The air cylinder 37 is supplied with air under pressure from a solenoid actuated valve which is in series with electric switches 66, 67, 68, 69 and one contact of a switch 71, which switches constitute the detecting means. The switch 68 is operated by an approaching slave chain dog. When the switches are all closed the actuating solenoid operates the piston-rod 52 to move a carrier to the second holding position as described with reference to Fig. 7 (not shown). During this time the switch 66 is released and finally a second contact of the switch 71 is operated. The latter switch is in series with a retracting solenoid for the air valve, this circuit being in parallel with the circuit of the actuating solenoid. Thereafter the plate 42 is moved back to the first holding position to receive another carrier moved, e.g. by gravity down an incline 78 of the branch line.