ES354307A1 - Conveyor Arrangements - Google Patents

Abstract

Trays 7 on carriers 6 mounted between a pair of endless driven chains 2, 3 are off-loaded by platforms 12 movable by a parallelogram linkage 34, 35 between a position remote from the carrier and an interdigitating position in the path of the carrier. Disposed along the carrier path and engageable by a rod 6.1 carried thereby are two pairs of contacts 46.1, 46.2, and 47.1, 47.2 connected in a circuit, Fig. 3 (not shown). The respective pairs of contacts are spaced apart and the length of the rod 6À1 is such that the path of the carrier adjacent to an off-loading station is divided into four zones wherein in zone 1 the approach of a tray 7 is detected by a photo-electric device 49 which reads a destination code on the edge 7À1 of the tray. The code comprises surfaces which are rotatable between reflective and non-reflective positions. If the code corresponds to that of the discharge station a motor 41 is started to move the platform from its remote position into the path of the carrier. Contacts 46.1 and 47.1 are closed. In zone II contact 46.1 opens to prevent initiation of the movement of the platform, if this has not taken place, and contact 46À2 closes to maintain any motion of the said platform until the same reaches its interdigitating position whereupon switch 40 is closed and switch 38 is opened to stop the motor 41. In zone III contact 47.1 is opened to break the hold circuit for a relay (53), Fig. 3 (not shown), whereby if the platform has failed to reach its extreme position the relay circuit is broken and the chains 2, 3 stopped. The tray is transferred in zone III. In zone IV contacts 46.1 and 47.2 are closed to effect reversal of the motor 41 to withdraw the platform until limit switch 37 is opened to stop the motor and thus complete the cycle. An arm 27À5 deflectable by a tray 7 on a platform into engagement with a feeler rod 6.2 of an approaching carrier will open a safety switch 27 and stop the chains 2, 3 should the platform for some reason already be loaded with a tray. The platform comprises parallel sets of rollers 12 inclined downwardly away from the carrier, so that trays thereon abut a stop 44. The stop is releasable by a lever 45 on arrival of the platform at its remote position to allow the tray to be delivered to further inclined rollers 32. The loading of the trays on to the carriers is similar to the above except that the platforms are downwardly inclined towards the carriers, which carrier is moving in the opposite direction. Pairs of contacts 28.1, 28.2 and 29.1, 29.2 are engaged in similar fashion by the carrier as it passes through the four zones to synchronize the movement of the platform 12 to that of the carrier 6. A safety switch 26 mounted on the platform and actuated by a loaded carrier breaks the drive circuit and stops the chains 2, 3.