Patent GB-1095060-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to storage units incorporating helical runways for storing articles
IPC: B65G11/00
Filed: 1966-10-21
Abstract: 1,095,060. Endless-pusher conveyers. F. JOS. LAMB CO. Inc. Oct. 21, 1966 [Oct. 21, 1965], No. 47132/66. Heading B8A. A storage unit comprises a vertical, rotatably mounted spindle 11, Fig. 1, driven by a motor 6, a fixed helical runway 5 coaxial with the spindle, a pair of vertically aligned sprockets 32, 35 mounted on the spindle for rotation about horizontal axes, an endless chain 36 extending round the sprockets and carrying members 37 for pushing articles up the runway, a fixed drive member coaxial with the spindle, and means carried by the spindle and having driving connections with the fixed drive member and the sprockets for moving the chain a vertical distance equal to the pitch of the runway during each revolution of the spindle. The runway 5 is fixed to circularly spaced supports 3 mounted on the floor (not shown) and extending between a base-plate 1 and a cap 2 which carry bearings 9, 12 for supporting the spindle 11. The runway 5 consists in outer guide rails 5a, 5b and inner carrier rails 5c. The motor 6 drives the spindle 11 through a reduction unit 7. Fixed to and projecting laterally from the spindle 11 are members 17, 18, the member 17 supporting a reduction unit 23, Fig. 3, having an input shaft 26 on which is mounted a sprocket 27 connected to the fixed drive member, which is formed by a sprocket 25, by an endless chain 29, and an output shaft 31 on which is mounted the sprocket 32. A vertically extending angle member 33 is secured to the support members 17, 18 and carries spaced guide bars 40, and the chain 36 has rotatably mounted thereon rollers 43, 44 for engaging respectively between one of the bars 40 and the angle member 33 and between the bars 40, for supporting the chain 36 against the load from the members 37. The latter are resilient so that they can flex to pass any articles accumulating on the runway. In a modification, Figs. 10 and 11 (not shown), the members (37a) pushing the articles extend downwardly towards the rails 5c, and in a second modification, Figs. 12 and 13 (not shown), the members extend upwardly between the rails 5c. In a third modification, Figs. 14 and 15 (not shown), the chain drive 25, 27, 29 is replaced by a fixed gear (25c) directly engaging a gear (27c). In a fourth modification, Figs. 16, 17 (not shown), having the fixed drive member formed by a gear (25d) meshing with a gear (27d) on the input shaft of a reduction unit (23d), the output shaft (62) of the unit is connected to a shaft (31d) carrying the upper sprocket (32d) by a chain drive (61, 63, 64). In a fifth modification, Figs. 18, 19 (not shown), the fixed drive member is a worm (25e) which meshes with a worm-wheel (50) mounted on a shaft (31e) having secured thereon the upper sprocket (32e). In a sixth modification, Figs. 20, 21 (not shown), the fixed drive member is a gear (25f) meshing with a gear (27f) mounted on the input shaft of a reduction unit (23f), the output shaft of the unit driving the upper sprocket (32f) through bevel gears (69, 70). In a seventh modification, Figs. 22, 23 (not shown), the fixed drive member is a bevel gear (25g) meshing with a bevel gear (27g) mounted on the input shaft of a reduction unit (23g), the output shaft of the unit driving the upper sprocket (32g). As shown, there are two pairs of vertically aligned sprockets and associated endless chains but more may be provided. Delivery and discharge shoots may be connected to the helical runway.