GB1164168A - Conveyor System - Google Patents

Abstract

1,164,168. Endless conveyers. FMC CORP. 15 Nov., 1966, No. 51049/66. Heading B8A. A main monorail conveyer E has dual sideby-side carrier shoots 24, 24a which are loaded with bags at stations 22 and are displaceable selectively to dump a bag 26 via a system of conveyers (114) and (116) (Figs. 7 and 8, not shown) and stationary shoots (110), (118), on to a similar carrier shoot 31, or 31a of a distributing conveyer S. As shown, there are two main conveyers E3, E4, each feeding two conveyers S1 S2. The shoots (110), (118) and conveyers (114), (116) are arranged so that a sack on a right hand carrier shoot 24 of the conveyer E3 or E4, is transferred to a left hand carrier shoot 31a of the conveyer S1 or S2. Similarly a sack on a left hand carrier shoot 24a of either conveyer E is transferred to a right hand carrier shoot 31 of the selected conveyer S. If it is desired to transfer a sack from a shoot 24 to a shoot 31, a transfer is effected at a station T5 at a loop 160 of the conveyer E, from the shoot 24 to a shoot 24a of another carrier. When the transfer to the conveyer S takes place, the sack will then pass to a shoot 31 as intended. In a modified arrangement (Figs. 1A-1C, not shown) there is no loop 160 and associated transfer station T5. There is instead an additional transfer station (Ta) at the other point of crossing of each conveyer S1 S2 below the main conveyer. The shoots at each of these stations are arranged to transfer bags from a shoot 24 to a shoot 31 (or from a shoot 24a to a shoot 31a). Shoots 31 and 31a are programmed by electronic means (not described) or are manually controlled to discharge selectively into destination shoots 32, 32a. The conveyers (114), (116) are so controlled by photo-electric means that each conveyer is maintained at rest until its preceding conveyer has discharged its bag. Similarly a trap door (142) prevents discharge of a bag to an already occupied carrier shoot of the conveyer S1 or S2. Each pair of carrier shoots 24, 24a is pivotally mounted at 50 (Fig. 5) on a member 48 depending from an endless roller chain 44. The shoots in normal transit are maintained in raised position (L.H. side of Fig. 5) by the engagement of a latch 66 with a member 68. At a selected discharge station, the setting of a memory member 75 is such as to engage a switching system (76), (72) (Fig. 2, not shown) so that the plunger of a solenoid (72) carried by the conveyer framework is projected into the path of a lever 70 rigid with the latch 66. After discharge has taken place, the shoots 24, 24a are lifted back into latching engagement again by the action of a ramp 84 and a gravity biased pivoted lever 88. Stabilizing wheels 102 are provided on the member 48 on either side of auxiliary rails 73 and further wheels 100 engage flared guides 98 arranged at the transfer stations to provide additional stability.