GB1249462A - Control apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,249,462. Controlling. JOHN FORMBY & CO. Ltd. 28 Oct., 1968 [2 Aug., 1967], No. 35410/67. Heading B8A. [Also in Division H1] A control apparatus for initiating an operation at a particular phase of a cycle of movement of a mechanism, comprising a plurality of trains of rotary members (as shown, gear trains 5, 10; 3, 8; and 4, 12, 14) having a common drive means 2, means 15a, 15b, 15c borne on the driven rotary members to operate switching means (16a, 16b, 16c) at predetermined orientations of the rotary members, the latter repeating periodically, but only at the same instant, in respect of all the trains, once during the cycle of the mechanism, i.e. at the particular phase of the cycle, means then being operated to provide an electrical control signal O/P. Instead of micro switches, a disc 45 (Fig. 4) of plastics material may be carried by each driven gear wheel. This is fitted with a metal insert disc 49 which coacts with an oscillator 51 to produce a signal at the predetermined orientation. When the three output signals occur simultaneously they trigger an " AND " gate 53 to produce the signal O/P. In a further modification (Fig. 5, not shown), a light (56) shines through apertures (44b) and (45b) in discs (45a) and (44a), to activate a photo-electric device (54). The apertures (44b) and (45b) are in alignment only at the instant corresponding to the particular phase of the chain 17. A composite apparatus may provide a series of output signals by having a series of gear trains and associated sets of micro switches (Fig. 2, not shown). In another application (Fig. 7, not shown) the drive shafts 2 of a series of the apparatuses are coupled together by mechanical gearing or by Selsyn transmitters. In Fig. 6, in an article delivery system arranged in a three storey building, a fixed delivery box 58a has an article delivery shoot 61a controlled by a solenoid 63a. The latter is activated by an apparatus 57a which has its shaft 2 (Fig. 1) coupled to the drive of the conveyer chain 17. As shown, the solenoid 63a has previously been energized to cause the box 58a to discharge into a conveyer carrier 59a. The latter is suspended from the chain 17, has ground engaging wheels 69 and has a discharge device 64a which is adapted to be activated by a solenoid 66a energized at the due time by a signal from an apparatus 57c. Thereby the carrier 59a discharges its load into a collecting box 60a. Similarly a carrier 59b loaded from a box 58b delivers its load to a box 60b on the second floor of the building.