Patent GB-311266-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to conveyer systems
IPC: B65G51/46
Filed: 1929-01-30
Abstract: 311,266. Telephon-Apparat-Fabrik E. Zwietusch & Co. Ges. May 8, 1928, [Convention date]. Discharging and feeding devices for endless-belt conveyers.-Relates to a conveyer system wherein objects may be despatched through the medium of conveyer bands and comprises an arrangement wherein a plurality of objects may be transmitted simultaneously , over a sectionalized conveyer system to a plurality of selectable destinations. Fig. 2 shows a diagrammatic arrangement of a conveyer system having a despatching station S and a plurality of destinations A<1> - - A'. Fig. 3 shows the selective equipment associated with a single section of the system. When it is desired to transmit several objects over the system simultaneously the appropriate keys in the group of destination keys T<1> - - T' are depressed in the order corresponding to the order of transmission of the objects. The keys mark the appropriate multipled contacts of a plurality of stepby-step selector switches NI1 - NI5 and as each object passes over the first section, a track contact df‹ is depressed to operate a step-by-step switch ESI which successively brings into operation the selector switches NI1 - - NI5. Similar selector switches N are associated with each section of the system and each switch has three wiper contacts a, b, c which automatically hunt for marked contacts. The switches of the first section hunt for the contacts marked by the destination keys and the setting of these switches is transferred to the following sections, section by section, as the track contacts df<1>, dfu, &c. are operated by passing objects. The passage of objects to the appropriate destinations is controlled by section switches w<1> - - w<6> operated by magnets W<1> - - W<6> which are connected to multipled contacts in the banks associated with wipers b of the respective section switches N in a manner characteristic of the destinations of the sections. For example, the second object despatched can only be delivered to destination A<1> if the wiper b of a switch NI engages the first contact to energize magnet W<1>. Detailed description. Assuming it is desired' to despatch three objects to destinations A<4>, A<2>, A<7> respectively, key T<4> corresponding to destination A<4> is first depressed to start the driving means of the conveyer system and appropriately mark the stepping switches NI1 - - NI5. The first object despatched operates the track contact df‹ and operates a switch ESI one step to bring into operation the first hunting switch NI1 which moves automatically its wipers a, b c into positions corresponding to the marked contact in the bank V<1>, i.e. contact. 4. This operation also causes release of the depressed key T<4> and the system is in a condition to permit the despatch of the second object. The key T<2> corresponding to the destination of the second object is then depressed and by reason of the operation of track contact df<0> the switch ESI is again operated to bring into action the hunting switch NI2 which operates to find the contact marked by key T<2> and cause release of that key. The operation of key T' upon the despatch of the third object effects in a similar manner a further operation of switch ESI and a hunting action of switch N13. As the magnet W1 remains de-energized by reason of the position of wiper b of switch NI1 the first object passes into the second section and operates track contact df<1> which operates switches ASI (11, 12), ESII one step. Switch ASI11 earths wiper b of switch N12 but as that switch is in its second position magnet W<1> remains de-energized. Switch ESII one step. Switch ASI11 earths wiper b of second section of the system to hunt up to a cpntact marked by the setting switch NI1 over wiper c. In this manner the setting of switch NI1 of the first section corresponding to the destination of the first object is transferred to the switch NII1 of the second section and the first object travels through section switches w<2>, u since the associated magnets w<2>, u remain de-energized. Operation of the track contact df<u> operates switches ASII (21, 22), ESIII, the latter of which causes switch NIII1 to hunt up to a contact marked by wiper c of switch NII1 and thus receive the setting corresponding to the destination of the first object. This object passes section switch w<3> and thus operates switch df<3> which operates switches ASIII (31, 32), ESIV. Switch NIV1 then hunts into a position determined by wiper c of switch NIII1. In this position, magnot W<4> is energized over wiper b and the section switch w<4> is operated to cause delivery of the first object to destination A<4>. A delivery contact a<4> is operated by the object to operate switch ASIV. The second object on passing track contacts df<0>, df<1> respectively causes operation of switches ESI, ESII on to their second contacts and also a further operation of switch ASI (11, 12). As a result of operation of switch ESII the switch NII2 moves to the contact marked by the switch NI2 and thereby causes operation of the magnet W<2> which effects the delivery of the second object to destination A<2> and in consequence operation of delivery contact a<2> to step the switch ASII to its second position. Similarly through the medium of the switches NI3, NII3 brought into operation by the switches ESI, ESII, as a result of the despatch of the third object, magnet U is operated to switch over the junction u and upon actuation of contact df<6/7> switch ESVI causes operation of switch NVI1 dependent upon position of switch NII3. As a result of these operations magnet W<6> remains inoperative so that the third object is delivered to its appropriate station A7. Operation of contact df<6/7> further operates ASII (21, 22) to cause de-energization of magnet U and the return to normal of the junction switch u. Selective equipment for each conveyer section, Fig. 3. The Figure shows the equipment at an intermediate section. Track contacts df(1)<1>, d#(1)<11>, and df(2)<1>, d#(2)<11> are arranged at the beginning and end respectively of the section. When the first object arrives at the section contact d#(1)<1> is actuated to energize relay D and thereby cause operation of relays B, WK, and stepping magnet DE to move switch ES one step. Relay B connects stepping magnet DN of switch N in series with an interrupter U<n> and the switch is operated until the wiper a engages the contact in the bank V<1> which is marked by the stepping switch of the preceding section of the system and a relay P is energized to open the driving circuit of the switch N. The passage of further objects over the contact df(1)<1> operates switch ES through corresponding steps to switch into operation further hunting switches N (not shown) in a manner similar to that previously described. Operation of relay B also operates a thermostatic relay TH which, after delay action to prevent inadvertent action of the conveyer switching magnet W during operation of the switch N, energizes relay H to operate magnet W provided the wiper b of switch N engages the appropriate contact, e.g. contact 3 in bank V<2>. Energization of magnet W causes delivery and the consequent operation of the delivery contact a energizes relay A which operates the stepping magnet DA of switch AS to cause the switch to move one step and thereby de-energize magnet W. Passage of further objects through the section operate the switch AS step-by-step over contacts df(2)<11> whilst contact df(2)<1> initiates the operation of the equipment in the following conveyer section. When all the objects have left the section switches ES, AS occupy complimentary positions and relay B is short-circuited to cause release of relays H, P and restoration of the section apparatus in readiness for the subsequent despatch of objects. Preventing overloading in a section. In order to prevent the passage of more objects over a section than is provided for by the capacity of the section equipment, the last of the appropriate number of objects i.e., the tenth in the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, restores the switch ES to its zero contact and thereby de-energizes relay P, which is operated as a result of passage of the preceding object, and causes operation of relay Sp. Relay Sp energizes relay M over contacts of switches ES, AS and key SpTN, and thereby gives an alarm to the despatcher and causes operation of the switch magnet W of the preceding section over contact 24 to deliver all excess objects to that section. The switches ES, AS may be provided with contact banks having a greater number of positions than are required for normal operation of the system. In this case the arrangement must be such that the switches are stepped automatically over their excess contacts. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, contacts 9 of switches ES. AS are shown as examples of such contacts, engagement of the wipers III, 32 respectively energizing relays D, A to cause operation of the stepping magnets DE, DA to bring the switches again into co-operation with working contacts. Facilitating operation when a selector switch N is faulty. If for example switch N corresponding to the first position of switches ES, AS is faulty, a key having contacts SPT1, SPT2 is operated so that when those switches move into their first positions, relays D, A are operated to energize stepping magnets DE, DA and thereby causes automatic operation of the switches into their second positions to switch in a non-faulty switch N. Operation when a conveyer section is faulty due say to trouble in the driving means. In this case all the objects approaching the faulty section are delivered in front of the section. For this purpose key SpTN is operated to energize relay M which operates the conveyer switching magnet W of the previous section. Fuse alarm. If the fuse Si blows, alarm contacts si energize relays M, EA in series to (1) operate the previously section switch w and (2) give an