Patent GB-438743-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and connected with step-by-step conveyor mechanisms
IPC: F27B9/20
Filed: 1934-07-30
Abstract: 438,743. Step - by - step conveyers. MARCHANT, W. R., 87, Suunybank Road, Griffithstown, Pontypool, Monmouthshire, and BALDWINS, Ltd., Great Trinity Lane, Garlick Hill, London. July 30, 1934, Nos. 22204/34 and 15409/35. [Class 78 (i)] [See also Group XII] A step-by-step conveyer for articles such as metal bars, billets, plates, trays, &c., comprises a track for supporting such articles, a shaft, with projecting fingers, extending longitudinally of the track, means for turning the shaft to bring the fingers into engagement with individual articles, and means for propelling the shaft longitudinally for sliding the articles along the track, the said means subsequently effecting disengagement of the fingers from the articles and return of the shaft to its initial position. Figs. 1, 2 show an arrangement for feeding plates c from a furnace a on to a ramp v and conveyer w leading to a feed table x of a rolling mill or like machine. The plates c are fed through the furnace a on tracks b by fingers d<1> on shafts d propelled longitudinally by a carriage h which is operated by a motor n having its piston head connected to the front of the carriage. When the motor is operated, rollers o on the carriage engage cams m on the shafts d and rotate these shafts so as to bring the fingers d<1> into a vertical position behind a plate. A bracket g on the carriage, moving idly along the shafts d, simultaneously engages collars k and propels the shafts longitudinally. At the end of this movement, a bracket p on the carriage trips a valve q to effect the return movement. During the initial period of this movement, the rollers o positively rotate the cams m or permit them to return by gravity, so that the fingers d<1> are moved to a position enabling them to pass under the plates c. The collars g then engage collars e to return the shafts longitudinally, a trip valve q<1> being provided, if desired, for automatically cutting off the power. Gravity pawls v engage behind the leading plate c on the completion of the return stroke and, on the next feeding stroke, propel the plate along the ramp v to the conveyer w. In a modification, Fig. 4, in which the plates are fed directly to the conveyer w, the cams m consist of helical blades on extensions of the shafts d, engaging between pairs of rollers 2 on the carriage, the latter comprising wheels 7 running on tracks 8. In another modification, Figs. 6, 9, in which plates c are delivered from the furnace to a shoot 30 leading to a conveyer 31, the shafts d are controlled by a motor-driven crank 16. With the parts as shown in Fig. 9 on clockwise rotation of the crank, lost-motion between a rod 15 and lever 10 is taken up, and a cam 19 simultaneously rocks arms 20 to the position, Fig. 6 and, through a lever 24 and arms 25, lowers racks 26 which by engagement with toothed sectors 28 on the shafts d, turn the fingers d<1> to their up-turned position behind an article c. During the remainder of its forward throw, the crank rocks the lever 10 from right to left to convey an article one step. On the return throw, the fingers d<1> are restored to their down-turned position and the shafts d returned longitudinally. Each finger-shaft may be provided with two sets of fingers so disposed that, on one stroke, one set of fingers propels objects along an upper track in one direction and, on the reverse stroke, the other set propels objects reversely along a lower track. According to the first Provisional Specification, a vertical sliding door may be fitted over the delivery doorway of the furnace a, Fig. 1, and may be raised automatically through linkage at the moment when the leading plate c is to be moved through the doorway by the pawls v.