Patent GB-839098-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to methods of and apparatus for separating like articlesfrom a disorderly mass and dividing the articles in predetermined relative number among a plurality of space receivers
IPC: B65G47/68
Filed: 1958-07-01
Abstract: 839,098. Endless-belt conveyers. MEYER MANUFACTURING CO., G. J. July 1, 1958 [Sept. 17, 1957], No. 21009/58. Class 78 (1). Apparatus for separating like articles from a disorderly mass and dividing them in predetermined relative number among a plurality of spaced receivers T<SP>1</SP> ... T<SP>4</SP> comprising a plurality of conveyer runs 30... 33 extending along the row of receivers, said runs being in the same plane and of the kind.which allows articles to be moved across them, means 38 operative to cause articles while being advanced by that run 31, which is nearest the receivers, to move across the run towards the receivers, and wherein articles not accepted by the first receiver are diverted from the first conveyer run on to the next run 30, is characterized by having means 43a for restoring such diverted articles to the first run after they have passed the first receiver T<SP>1</SP> and means for moving the several runs in such relative velocities and in such relative directions as continually to supply each receiver to its full capacity. The conveyer 30 travels from left to right, Fig. 1, and has the conveyers 31, 32, which move in the same direction, between it and the receivers. The conveyer 33 is on the opposite side of the conveyer 30 and travels oppositely to it. A dead-plate 34 is disposed between the conveyers 30, 33. Each receiver includes a delivery conveyer C3 to which the articles are transferred by a turntable 42. Each diverter 38 is provided with a narrow fin 40 having a bevelled end 41 to prevent bridging of the articles as they approach it. The diverter 38 at the receiver T<SP>4</SP> has a fin 40a which extends obliquely across the conveyer 30 to its centre line. A guide member 40x co-operates with this diverter. Any article which is not deflected by the diverter is carried on by the conveyer until it reaches a curved guide 53 which deflects it on to the conveyer 33. A guide 37 transfers it from this conveyer to the conveyer 30. As an article moves along the guide it engages the arm 55 of a switch 54 in circuit with which is a time-delay device 56. A series of resilient deflectors 43... 43b is disposed above the conveyer 30 in positions to be engaged by the articles before they reach the next diverter 38. Each deflector 43 is fixed to a vertical rotary shaft 44, Fig. 6, having a crankarm 46 which is connected to the piston-rod 47 which is spring-urged in the direction to hold the deflector in the position shown in Fig. 1. A cam mounted on the shaft 44 of the first deflector actuates a switch 51 which controls the speed of the conveyers. The conveyers 30, 32 are driven by chain gearing from sprockets 61, 62 on a shaft 60 which is driven by a chain 57 from the output shaft 87 of a speed reducer D. The input shaft 86 of the speed-reducer carries a pulley 88 which forms one element of a Reeve's drive, the other element 77 of which is fixed to the shaft 76 of a motor M. The chain of the conveyer 32 engages a sprocket 63 on one end of a shaft 64, on the other end of which is a sprocket 65. This sprocket drives a shaft 68 through chain-and-sprocket gearing. The shaft 68 carries a sprocket 69 which engages the chain of conveyer 31. This chain engages a sprocket 70 on a shaft 71 which is connected by gears 73 74 to a shaft 75. A sprocket 76 on shaft 75 drives the chain of conveyer 33. The motor M has a base B which is slidable lengthwise of the conveyers on a fixed bracket. This bracket houses a cylinder 79 containing pistons 80, 81. The rod 82 of the piston 80 extends through an opening in the cylinder head 83 and its outer end is connected by a bracket 84 to the base B. The piston 81 is attached to a rod 91 which slides in a tubular stem 92 integral with the cylinder head 93. A hub 94 on the piston limits its motion toward the head 93 and an extension 95 of the rod 91 acts, at times, to determine the position of the piston 80. The end of the rod 91 is attached to a tension-spring 97 which tends to move it to the right. Ports 98, 99 are provided in the side wall of the cylinder, of which the port 98 is located between the pistons and the port 99 is between the piston 81 and the head 93. Pipes 100, 101, Fig. 9, connect the ports to solenoid-actuated three-way valves 102, 103 which control the admission of pressure fluid at different pressures. The solenoids actuating the valves are in circuit with the switches 52, 54. The movement of the pistons in the cylinder 79 causes movement of the motor M to vary the speeds of the conveyers.