Patent GB-914791-A (GB)
Title: Rigid sheet handling apparatus
IPC: B65G49/06
Filed: 1960-04-14
Abstract: 914,791. Conveyer systems for handling rigid sheets; gripping sheets. PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS CO. April 14, 1960 [April 16, 1959], No. 13347/60. Classes 78 (1) and 78 (4). [Also in Group XII] Apparatus for conveying glass sheets through a lehr (see Group XII), where the sheets are heated and subsequently chilled by air blasts, comprises a series of conveyers for conveying the sheets on-edge to a transfer station 31, means at the transfer station whereby each sheet is gripped and elevated, and at the same time turned through 180 degrees about a horizontal axis, a plurality of carriages c travelling around a closed path including superposed conveying and return runs, tongs depending from each carriage to receive the sheets from the transfer station 31, and a further transfer station 80 at which the sheets are removed from the tongs on the carriages and deposited upon a further conveyer. The first of the conveyers in advance of the transfer station 31 consists of an endless belt P on which the lower edges of the sheets rest, and three series of rollers IR arranged in an inclined plane so as to support one face of the sheets at an inclination to the vertical. The sheets pass from this conveyer to a second conveyer consisting of a series of driven rollers 27 (Figs. 1 and 7) and pairs of idling rollers 30 arranged in a frame which is tiltable by the operation of a cylinder 28 about a horizontal longitudinal axis 24 between a position to receive the sheets from the first conveyer in inclined position and a position in which the sheets are vertical for forwarding to the transfer station 31. The latter comprises a series of idling rollers arranged on a frame DC which is swingable about a horizontal axis, these rollers supporting the lower edges of the sheets, and further rollers 45 arranged similarly to the rollers 30. The frame DC is swung between the solid-line receiving position and the chain-line position, in which it is out of the way of the sheet during transfer, by a piston-andcylinder actuator 36. Upon receipt of a sheet by the rollers on the frame DC, a pair of grippers 40, arranged on opposite sides of the sheet and carried by a carriage 41 having rollers 43 running on a vertical post 35, are moved towards each other by solenoids (Fig. 9, not shown) to grip the sheet, after which the carriage is raised by a cylinder 46. During the raising movement the grippers are rotated by the engagement of toothed wheels 39 carried by the grippers with stationary racks 38 secured to the post 35, so that the sheet is inverted for presentation to the tongs T on the carriage C, the frame DC having been swung downwardly out of the way prior to the inversion of the sheet. Load-engaging devices.-The tongs T each comprise a pair of levers 18, Fig. 3, pivoted together at 17 and suspended by a toggle from a wedge member 13, Fig. 4, which is normally supported in a bracket 10 by resting upon a pointed member so that it can rotate freely, but which when raised engages a grooved surface 11 of the bracket to prevent it from rotating. When a sheet is raised up to the tongs its upper edge is guided into the tongs by guidemembers 21, Fig. 3, on the tongs, the tongs opening automatically as they are engaged by the sheet owing to the action of the toggle suspension, and the tongs being also steadied by the action of the wedge member 13. Upon subsequent release of the grippers 40 the tongs close and retain the sheet for movement with the carriage C. Overhead rollerway conveyer.-The carriages C travel in a closed path formed by two superposed series of rollerways interconnected at their ends by carriage transfer mechanisms. Each rollerway consists of a series of driven rollers, the rollers 64, Fig. 12, supporting the carriages on the lower run and the rollers 90, Fig. 14, supporting the carriages on the upper run. Some of the rollers in the lower run may be driven at speeds different from that of the remainder, so that the speed of the carriages is varied, e.g. when passing through a heating oven 51, or through blasts of cooling air from a pair of opposed mouths 72 (see Group XII). When the glass sheets have reached the end of the lower run of the carriages beyond the mouths 72 they are discharged from the tongs by fixed ramps 85, Fig. 12, which engage extensions 20, Fig. 3, on the toggle connecting the upper ends of the levers 18 and thereby open the tongs. The sheets are released in timed relation with the movement of a receiving conveyer 83. Endless conveyers.-The receiving conveyer 83 consists of a pair of endless chains between which are secured cross-rods 89 each carrying three upstanding bars 98, the upper ends of which are rubber tipped to act as rests for the sheets. Rubber strips 88 are secured between adjacent rods 89 in staggered arrangement to support the lower edges of the sheets and cushion their fall from the tongs. The conveyer 83 passes the sheets past further cooling blasts from ducts 96 to an unloading point where they are removed manually. After discharge of the sheets from the tongs the carriages are transferred to the upper run by a mechanism comprising pairs of arms 107, 110 mounted for rotation about parallel shafts 108, 111, respectively, and maintained parallel by a pair of links 109, each of which is extended to form a carriage engaging member including a roller 109A to engage a carriage C. The shafts 108, 111 are mounted in a frame pivoted on a further shaft carrying a pinion 104 for driving, via a gear 105, the shaft 108. A cylinder 100 is adapted to rock the frame about the shaft carrying pinion 104, in timed relation with swinging movements of the arms 107, 110, such that the roller 109A traverses the path a, b, c, d, a, so raising each carriage in turn and depositing it upon the upper run. A transfer mechanism similar to the one shown but arranged so that its roller 109A traverses the path d, c, b, a, d, is provided at the opposite end of the carriage conveyer to return the carriages to the lower run. The Specification also discloses a system of relays controlled by limit switches arranged at various points in the apparatus for switching on and off the various conveyers and parts of the transfer mechanisms in accordance with the movements of the glass sheets and associated parts of the mechanisms. Specification 914,792 is referred to.