Patent GB-975037-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to package-diverting apparatus
Inventor: BOWD GORDON RONALD
IPC: B65G47/54
Filed: 1962-08-08
Abstract: 975,037. Roller conveyers for diverting packages. SOVEX Ltd. Nov. 1, 1963 [Aug. 8, 1962], No. 30395/62. Heading B8A. Two sets of rollers 3, 4 arranged to move up and down through openings 2 in a square plate 1 may be used to divert bundles of newspapers delivered by conveyers (not shown) which terminate at A, B, C and D. Lines of rollers 9, not movable up and down, and bundle-detecting members 51-58 also project through the plate 1. Each set of rollers 3, 4 is mounted on a frame 7, 8 respectively, the frames being supported by concentric pillars 11, 12 which are raised and lowered by single-crest cams 21, 22. A shaft 23 on which the cams are secured is rotatable by operation of an electromagnetic clutch 24 and by an electric motor 25. The cam-shaft, which may be brought to rest by an electromagnetic brake 26, also carries a cam 28 for operating two motion-limiting switches 29 (Fig. 2). Each set of rollers 3 or 4, together with the other rollers 9 whose axes are parallel to the axes of that set, is driven from a continuously running reversible electric motor 30 or 31. The bundle-detecting members, Fig. 4, each comprise a pivoted lever 60 having a domed portion 62 which is depressed by an approaching bundle and causes the associated switch 64 to operate. These switches control the up and down movements of the rollers 3, 4 and their direction of rotation, in dependence upon the previous setting of selection switches determining the path to be followed by the bundles through the apparatus. Electromagnetically controlled bundle-stopping means may be provided between each conveyer and the plate 1 for arresting a following bundle until a preceding bundle has been dealt with. Operation.-Assuming bundles arriving from a conveyer, say at A, are to be diverted through 90 degrees to another conveyer, say at B, all the rollers 3, 4, 9 are rotating, and the set of rollers 3 adjacent conveyer A is in the raised position. An arriving bundle depresses the detecting members 51, 52 without affecting the initial conditions but when the bundle reaches and depresses detecting member 53 towards the other side of the plate 1, brake 26 is caused to be released and the clutch 24 engaged. Camshaft 23 is turned, lowering the rollers 3 and raising the rollers 4 such that they pass each other below the surface of the plate 1, and the bundle comes momentarily to rest on the latter. When the cam-shaft 23 has turned through 180 degrees, one of the limit switches 29 is operated by the cam 28 causing the clutch 24 to be released and the brake 26 to be engaged so that the cam-shaft is arrested. The bundle is therefore delivered on to the delivery conveyer at B. As the trailing edge of the bundle leaves the outer detecting member 55, the latter rises and operates its associated switch so that the brake 26 is again released, the clutch 24 engaged and the cam-shaft turned through 180 degrees to restore the original positions of the rollers 3, 4 in readiness for the next bundle, the other limit switch 29 finally operating to release the clutch 24 and engage the brake 26. The arrangement may be adapted to the case of a T junction or an L junction. Specification 881,250 is referred to.