Patent GB-893120-A (GB)
Title: Article conveyor
Inventor: BUCCICONE DARIO
IPC: B65G21/20
Filed: 1960-03-11
Abstract: 893,120. Sheet-delivery apparatus. BUCCICONI ENGINEERING CO. Mar. 11, 1960, No. 8610/60. Class 100(1) [Also in Group XXX] An endless belt conveyer for articles such as sheets S comprises a plurality of side-by-side belt sections, the articles being held in engagement with the lower surfaces of the bottom runs of the belt sections by means of suction applied through openings which are automatically formed between the belt sections as the article being conveyed is advanced along the conveyer. As shown, the conveyer comprises endless bands 28, 29, 30 supported on rollers 31, 32, the lower runs of bands 29, 30 being guided by a plate 23, Fig. 5, which, together with a M-shaped conveyer frame member 22, defines a vacuum chamber. Apertures 47 are provided at intervals along the plate and, through each aperture, the centre band 28 is engaged by rollers 48 which are mounted on a sleeve 50 eccentrically mounted on a shaft 51 mounted in brackets 52, 52<SP>1</SP> on the plate 23, the weight of the eccentrically mounted rollers 48 normally depressing the centre band 28 causing the tapered edges of the centre band to mate with the tapered edges of the bands 29, 30, thereby sealing off the vacuum chamber, the lower surface of the band 28 being below those of bands 29, 30, Figs. 5, 7. At the feed end of the conveyer, sheets S are fed from an endless band 15 between a resiliently mounted roller 17, provided with a groove 63, Fig. 7, to receive the lower surface of band 28, and the bands 28, 29, 30, thereby raising the band 28 relative to the bands 29, 30 against the action of rollers 48, and thereby opening passageways 45, 46, Fig. 6, to permit suction to be applied to the sheet S through the apertures 47. As the sheet advances, each succeeding pair of rollers 48 is raised by upward movement of the centre band 28 and arms 53, secured to the sleeves 50, are swung in a counter clockwise direction, Fig. 1, to engage stop members 62 on a control rod 55 which passes through slots 54 in the arms 53 and which is connected to a double-acting, hydraulic ram or solenoid 61. When the trailing edge of the sheet is clear of the roller 17, the leading edge engages a suitably positioned control arm 64 which actuates the ram 61 to move the control rod 55 to the right, Fig. 1, causing the stop members 62 to rotate the arms 53 and roller carrying sleeves 50 sufficiently to force the centre band 28 downwardly into closed relation with the bands 29, 30, thereby cutting off the suction on the sheet and allowing the sheet to drop on to a stack beneath the conveyer. Alternatively, a control device may be provided adjacent the roller 17 to be actuated by the trailing edge of the sheet. The outer endless bands may be provided with recesses, Figs. II - 16 (not shown) adjacent the sheet to provide suction over a substantial area of the sheet. In a modification, Figs. 8-11 (not shown), the three belt sections are moulded as a single unit with slits adapted to be opened by pressure of the sheet on the lower centre belt section, as previously described to allow suction to be applied to the sheet.