Patent GB-961044-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for dispensing packaged goods
Inventor: BUNZL THOMAS FELIX
IPC: B65G1/137
Filed: 1961-04-11
Abstract: 961,044. Dispensing articles. ROTAX Ltd. March 27, 1962 [April 11, 1961], No. 12963/61. Heading A4T. [Also in Divisions B8 and G4] By setting up a code by means of switches or a punched card, a predetermined number of articles may be released from one or more of shoots 81-84 on to a conveyer 85. The articles may then be diverted into delivery channels 88, 89. The outlet of each shoot 81-84 is controlled by a respective wheel 86 normally held by the armature of a respective solenoid As Bs Cs Ds (As only visible in Fig. 2), to block the outlet of the shoot. A uniselector 13 (Fig. 3) controls wiper arms 1-8 movable over contacts 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, Z of respective contact sets. Contacts 1, 2, 3, 4 of each wiper arm 1-5 are connected to earth through contacts which are adapted to be opened by the action of a punched card except for those places (indicated by a line X) where a hole is punched in the card. The punched card may alternatively be replaced by switches. Each contact set of respective wiper arms 1-5 corresponds to the number of articles to be released from a selected shoot. The number of the contact in that set connected to earth determines the selected shoot. As shown, the punched card is perforated to programme three articles from shoot 81, two articles from shoot 82, no articles from shoot 83, and five articles from shoot 84. In operation of the shoot control apparatus (Fig. 3) to deal with this programme the action is initiated by supplying power to lines 11, 12. Current is passed by a transistor 16 to energize a uniselector 14 controlling wiper arms 9, 10, when the arm 10 reaches its contact G a relay R closes contacts R1 to energize uniselector 13. The arms 1-8 move one step since relay R is de-energized when the arms 9, 10 move back to their contacts O. When the arm 9 reaches contact 3 a circuit is established to earth through contact 1 of arm 3 of uniselector 13. This energizes relay F. Contacts F1 change and cause the transistor 16 to be cut-off thereby stopping the uniselector 14. Further circuitry results in the contact arm 7 of uniselector 13 being connected to the line 12 thus energizing a relay A and consequently the solenoid As, corresponding to the shoot 81 (Fig. 2). The latter thus withdraws a stop holding the corresponding wheel 86 which moves under the weight of the articles in the shoot to release the lowermost article and also operate a switch 23. The latter momentarily energizes a relay U which through contacts U2 causes the uniselector 14 to be energized for one step of the arms 9, 10. Contacts U1 of the relay U act through a relay P to re-energize the relay A and cause a further operation of solenoid As and consequent feed of a second article. The resulting stepping of the wiper arms 9, 10 to the contacts 5, 5, leads to the feed of a third article. The next step of the wiper arms 9, 10 to contacts G, G actuates relay R thus energizing the uniselector 13 and stepping the wiper arms 1-8 to contacts 2. The wiper arms 9, 10 now step round to contact 4, to initiate the feeding of two articles from the shoot 82. Similarly no articles are delivered from the shoot 83 and five from the shoot 84. As the first article of an order operates switch 22 in passing on to the conveyer 85 and thus energizes relay U, contacts U3, U4 (Fig. 4) are closed thus causing one step of either a uniselector a or a uniselector b according to the setting of a relay G. Thus if the latter is de-energized contacts G2 and G1 will be open and closed respectively and uniselector b will step successively to count the number of packages of the order delivered to the conveyer 85. At the completion of an order a relay T (Fig. 3) is energized and this acts through contacts T3 (Fig. 4) and a circuit associated with a relay W to cause the setting of the relay G to change at the completion of each order. (The G, W, relay circuitry is so arranged that each time switch T3 is made the relay G is alternately opened and closed). Thus the next order is counted on the uniselector a. At the same time articles of the first order are being registered by a photo transistor 45 (Figs. 1 and 4). The latter acts through transistor circuits 47, 50, to energize successively a uniselector c which thus counts the articles passing through the gate 87. The setting of the latter is determined by a punched card inserted between contacts 58, 59, 60. Through circuitry associated with relays Z, Q, Y, and ZA, QA, YA, this determines whether solenoids 61 or 62 shall be operated to deflect the gate into either of the dotted line positions (Fig. 1) or shall both be de-energized corresponding to the full-line position of the gate. As soon as uniselector b starts to count, a circuit is established via a wiper arm 34, switch H2 and the relay Z, Q, or Y, depending on the perforations of the punched card. E.g. if contacts 58 are closed, relay Y is energized and contacts Y4 energize solenoid 62. The relay Y is held on by contacts Y2, Y3. Contacts H6, H7 serve to connect either relays Z, Q, Y, with uniselector b or relays ZA, QA, YA with uniselector a according to the alternate energization or de-energization of a relay H which operates with a relay V in a similar circuit to, and in step with, the G, W relay circuit. When uniselectors b and c return to zero (i.e. after the first order has passed through the gate) the circuit energizing relay Y through wiper 36 and line 57 is broken (since wiper 36 is then on a blank contact). The punched card can now be removed and a further card inserted relating to the second order passing through the gate 87 the third order being counted on uniselector b. Before starting, both relays G and H must be either energized or de-energized. This condition is indicated by a lamp 63 controlled by switches V2, V3, W2, W3. Also the uniselectors a, b, c, must be reset. This is achieved manually by a switch 44 and the correct condition is indicated by a lamp 40. Specification 920,933 is referred to.