Patent GB-822113-A (GB)
Abstract: 822,113. Controlling expanding pulley gearing. MEYER MANUFACTURING CO., G. J. Sept. 9, 1957 [June 19, 1957], No. 28371/57. Class 80 (2). [Also in Groups XV and XXX] Relates to apparatus of the kind which supplies articles to be processed to a series of like processing units, the articles being advanced by a constantly moving supply conveyer and automatically diverted to the first processing unit of the series in such numbers as the first unit can handle and then diverted to the next unit and so on, with provision for recirculating upon the conveyer such articles as pass the last unit without being diverted from the conveyer. According to the invention drive means are provided for driving each processing unit at any one of three predetermined speeds-an idling speed, normal speed and high speed, together with drive control means so arranged as to cause all the processing units concomitantly to shift from normal speed to high speed if the supply conveyer supplies articles at such a rate that a substantial number of articles by-pass the last processing unit because of the inability of the processing units operating at normal speed to handle these articles. Provision is also made for driving the supply conveyer and a delivery conveyer each at low speed and high speed and for reducing the speed of any one of the processing units to idling speed if the supply of articles to the processing unit is interrupted. As described, the processing units are bottle labelling machines P1, P2 . . . Pn, Fig. 1, supplied with bottles by a conveyer S, the labelled bottles being taken away by a delivery conveyer D. The conveyer S comprises three separate runs 30, 31, 32, the run 32 running in reverse direction to the runs 30, 31. The bottles are fed in a disorderly mass on the runs 30, 31 and diverters D1, D2 . . . Dn divert bottles from the run 30 to the corresponding machines P1, P2 . . . Pn while yieldable deflectors R1, R2 . . . Rn extend across the run 31 to urge the bottles from the run 31 to the run 30. The deflectors R1, R2, &c. are each constructed as described in Specification 749,235, [Group XXX], to yield under abnormal pressure of bottles when the associated diverter D1, D2, &c. is receiving all the bottles it can handle. Bottles which pass the last unit Pn are carried by a guide 33 on to the reverse run 32 where they are engaged by a switch device 34 which restores them to the run 31. Rotary members 40, 41 assure the proper delivery of the bottles from each diverter to the associated labelling machine. Conveyer drive.-The conveyer drive motor M, Figs. 1, 8, is associated with a belt 60 and pulleys 61, 62 in a " Reeves " variable-speed type drive such that movement of the motor M toward or away from the pulley 62 varies the tension of the belt 60 to cause a variation in the speed of the shaft of the pulley 62. This shaft is connected through clutch and gearing mechanism to sprockets 66, 67, 68 which drive the conveyer runs 32, 30, 31 and the delivery conveyer D. The motor M, Fig. 8, is urged to the right by a spring 129 to the high speed position, movement to the left to the low speed position being effected by a piston working in a pneumatic cylinder 130 fed by a pipe 134x, Fig. 1, such that admission of compressed air moves the motor to the left to the low speed position. Admission of air is controlled by a valve 134a. Labelling machine drive.-Each labelling machine, e.g. the machine Pn, is driven also by a " Reeves " variable-speed type drive comprising a motor M<SP>1</SP>, Figs. 1, 5, associated with a belt 134 and pulleys 133, 135, the pulley 135 being on the shaft 136 of the labelling machine drive. The motor M<SP>1</SP> is slidable in a guideway on a base 132, movement of the motor being effected by a piston-rod 139a and piston 140 working in a pneumatic cylinder 137, the rod 139a being connected to the motor by a bracket 141. A spring K tends to move the piston 140 and the motor M<SP>1</SP> to the right. The cylinder 137 also contains a second piston 144 attached to a rod 142 projecting through the piston 144 to form a stop 142a for the piston 140. The rod 142 and piston 144 are urged to the right by a spring 147 and the rod 142 is provided with a disc 145 for actuating a switch 161. The cylinder 137 has two ports 149, 150 connected respectively to pipes 151, 153, Fig. 1, through which compressed air is admitted under the control of electrically operated valves 152, 154. Each cylinder 137 for each labelling machine has a separate pipe 151 and valve 152 but the pipe 153 and valve 154 conducts air to the ports 150 of all the cylinders 137. Assuming that the pipes 151, 153 are supplied with compressed air and that the pressure in pipe 153 is about twice that in pipe 151, with the valves 152, 154 open, the piston 144 in each cylinder 137 is moved to the left until the disc 145 contacts the switch 161. At the same time the compressed air fed through the port 149 forces the piston 140 and hence the motor M<SP>1</SP> to the left to the idling speed position. All the labelling machines are now driven at idling speed. If the valve 152 is now closed and the port 149 opened to atmosphere, the spring K will move the piston 140 to the right until it abuts the stop 142a, as shown in Fig. 5, this being the normal speed position. If now the valve 154 is closed and the ports 150 opened to atmosphere the springs 147 will pull the pistons 144 to the right, thus allowing the springs K to move the pistons 140 and motors M<SP>1</SP> to the right to the high speed position. Operation.-Switches 156, 157, 158, Fig. 1, located at the entrances to the labelling machines are actuated by the bottles and each switch is connected in series with a switch controlling the corresponding valve 152, the arrangement being such that when any one of the switches 156, 157, 158 is closed by contact of a passing bottle, the switch of the corresponding valve 152 is set to exhaust air from the space between the pistons 140, 144, thus speeding up the labelling machine to normal working speed. If the supply of bottles to any given machine is interrupted, the corresponding switch 156, 157, 158 will open, air admitted to the space between the pistons and the machine operated at idling speed. If during idling or normal speed operation, bottles in substantial number begin to move along the guide 33, Fig. 1, one or other of switches 159 or 160 will be closed by the passing bottles, thus setting the electrically-operated valve 134a to exhaust air from the cylinder 130. This causes the motor M to move to the right under the influence of the spring 129 so that the conveyers which normally run at low speed will now run at high speed. This movement of the motor M actuates a switch which causes the valve 154 to exhaust air from the cylinders 137 of all the motors M<SP>1</SP> and the labelling machines will now run at high speed. When any one of the machines is running at high speed the corresponding switch 161, Fig. 5, is closed, all the switches 161 being arranged in parallel. In changing from high speed to normal speed operation both switches 159, 160, Fig. 1, must be open, whereupon the valve 154 is opened to admit compressed air to the cylinders 137 through ports 150 and thus moving the piston 144 to carry with it the piston 140 to normal speed position. As each machine reaches normal speed, the corresponding disc 145 opens its switch 161. When all the switches 161 are open, the valve 134a is opened to admit compressed air to the cylinder 130, thus returning the conveyers to low speed operation.