Patent GB-779127-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to conveyor systems
IPC: B65G47/48
Filed: 1954-01-26
Abstract: 779,127. Conveyers. FREEMAN (ENGINEERS), Ltd., A., and FREEMAN, A. March 16, 1955 [Jan. 26, 1954], No. 2338/54. Addition to 723,421. Class 78 (1). The invention of the parent Specification is modified in that each index device is composed of a number of elements 19 arranged side by side for independent rotation on a common axis between two positions, each element comprising two angularly spaced projections and the elements being set to determine a specific combination by a setting mechanism including a series of levers 24 each movable into and out of the path of one of the projections on a corresponding element 19, to rotate the element or not as the case may be, and abutment means in advance of the levers 24 for engaging the other projection on each element to cancel a previous setting. The axis of the elements is preferably horizontal so that on each element one projection extends upwardly for engagement by the abutment means and the other extends downwardly for engagement by one of the levers 24. The two projections on each element are arranged at 240 degrees to each other and the elements are each rotatable through 60 degrees. The levers 24 of the setting mechanism are pivoted on a common rod 26 and are set by contact of their leading ends with a drum 22 having combinations of pins 23 one of which is selected by the handle 35 of a pointer 34 traversing a scale (not shown). The cranked trailing end 36 of a lever 24 is depressed out of the paths of the lower projections 20 of the index elements by a pin 23 engaging the leading end and urged into this path by a spring 27 when no pin 23 is present. Each index device is attached to a plate 6 depending from the conveyer chain, a spike 10 being pivoted to the lower end of the plate, and being spring-urged upwardly to engage a catch lever 12 urged by a spring 15 into operative position. Lasts to be sorted in a shoe factory are fitted on to the ends of the spikes at the or each setting station and drum 22 is set to correspond with the desired destination. As an unloaded spike approaches, all the elements 19 of the associated index device with their lower projections 20 not in vertical position are rotated to this position by contact of the upper projections 20 with a plate 38 carried by a sleeve 39 to which an arm 53, linked with the armature of a solenoid 50, is attached, the latter normally being de-energized and holding plate 38 in operative position. After passing the plate 38 the elements 19 of the index device are set by contact of their lower projections 20 with those levers 24 of the setting mechanism which are not engaged by a pin 23 and a last is placed on the spike 10 which passes on until the index device reaches a correspondingly set reader mechanism. If a loaded spike 10, however, approaches the setting station, it first passes a ramp 42 formed by a wire loop carried by a shaft 43 on which is mounted a lever 46 normally spring-urged away from the button of a micro-switch 49, whereby the last contacts the wire loop causing operation of the micro-switch which energizes solenoid 50 to raise plate 38 clear of the elements 19, and also energizes a solenoid 54 whose armature rocks a lever 55 pivoted on the rod 26 depressing a rod 57 on the remote end of lever 55 into contact with the cranked ends 36 of those levers 24 not engaging pins 23, depressing these ends 36 clear of the elements 19, allowing the loaded spike with a previously set index device to pass on with its index setting unchanged. Each reader mechanism, which is claimed independently in Specification 779,126 comprises upper and lower levers 69 secured respectively to upper and lower sleeves 60<SP>1</SP>, 61<SP>1</SP> journalled on rods 60, 61, each lever corresponding to one of the elements 19, the upper levers being positioned in the paths of elements 19 of an appropriately set index device which have their lower projections 20 in vertical position and the lower levers similarly being in the paths of elements 19 with their upper projections 20 in vertical position whereby a correctly set index device passes the levers without contact, whereby a release hook fixed to sleeve 60<SP>1</SP> trips the catch 12, discharging the last. The levers 69 are held in their non-operative positions by a spring 68 acting on a rod 66 carried by an arm 64 on one sleeve 60<SP>1</SP> and engaging the forked end of an arm 65 carried by the other sleeve 61<SP>1</SP> so that if any lever is contacted by a projection 20 not appropriately positioned, both upper and lower levers are moved. The release hook 70 is thereby raised out of operative position and the last is not discharged. Specification 733,420 also is referred to and Specifications 701,373, 723,420 and 733,419 are referred to in the Provisional Specification.