Patent GB-733431-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in conveyor systems
IPC: B65G47/48
Filed: 1952-05-09
Abstract: 733,431. Conveyers. FREEMAN (ENGINEERS), Ltd., A., and FREEMAN, A. April 29, 1953 [May 9, 1952], No. 11798/52. Class 78 (1). In or for a conveyer system by which articles are delivered or dealt with at desired points along the system, and comprising a plurality of index devices secured to the conveyer in association with carriers for the articles, each index device comprising a set of elements adapted to be set in particular combinations of projections and retractions, and a plurality of reader mechanisms sited at the desired points each responsive to a particular index setting to select a particular index device and to trip means acting on the associated article, a reader mechanism comprises a trip member movable between operative and inoperative positions, and a plurality of movable elements governed by the setting of the index devices, the elements being arranged to co-operate with apertures in the movable trip member, or in a part connected thereto, so that the trip member is moved into operative position when, and only when the elements of a passing index device are set to an approved combination. The embodiment disclosed is similar to that described in Specification 733,419. The reader levers 49 of the reader mechanism, however, are provided with grooves 50 for the passage of the pins 13 and are pivoted on a common transverse rod 48 to a housing 32 universally mounted on a pin 28 depending from a sleeve 26 fixed on the transverse shaft 19 upon which is pivotally mounted the trip member 21 carrying the nose 22 for dislodging the hook 11 on the index device from the roller 6 on the conveyer chain 1. Housing 32 carries also a second transverse shaft 35 upon which-is pivotally mounted a plate 36 carrying a perforated plate 52 which determines the combination to be accepted, plate 36 being adjustably associated with the lever 21 by means of a socket 41 secured on plate 36 and provided with a rubber pad 42 and a washer 43 for contact with an adjustable set-screw 44 on the lever 21. A light spring 38 urges plate 36 upwardly into contact with bolt 44 whilst a spring 46 urges lever 21 downwardly, whereby to press the perforated plate 52 on the tops of the upstanding pins 51 of the reader levers 49. In operation, a cam 60 on the nose 22 of lever 21 contacts a laterally extending member on the conveyer chain (not shown) just before an index device 12 reaches the levers 49, whereby lever 21 is raised, allowing plate 36 to rise'against a stop bar 40. This frees the upstanding pins 51 so allowing levers 49 to fall until pins 51 engage with the forward edge of the aperture 53 in the plate 36 over which the perforated plate 52 is secured. As the index pins 13 of the index device pass under the levers 49, cam 60 is released, whereupon lever 21 falls until plate 52 eitherrests on the pins 51, or, in the case of the set combination being received, passes over the pins 51 so allowing lever 21 to fall to its lowest position against stop 24, whereby the nose 22 is in position to dislodge the hook 11 from the roller 6. The universal mounting of the housing 32 enables the index devices 12 to be guided to bring their pins 13 into correct register with the grooves 50 of the levers 49 by means of a tapering guide channel 57, Fig. 3, on the housing 32, which is engaged by a pin 58 on the index device 12, thus swinging the housing into correct position. The swinging of the housing 32 is controlled by an adjustable set-screw 59. Specifications 723,420, 723,421, 733,420 and 733,432 also are referred to.