GB126411A - Improvements in or relating to Transport Systems for Postage and other Goods. - Google Patents

Abstract

126,411. Haller, H. K. March 5, 1918. Mechanical dispatch apparatus.-Articles such as telegrams, letters, papers, packages, &c. are automatically collected and conveyed to collecting stations bv means of conveyers.1 which are driven with an uninterrupted reciprocating horizontal or combined horizontal and vertical motion. Selfadjusting scrapers 4<c>, 4<d>, 4<c>, 4<f> on the conveyers sweep the articles from stationary shelves 6, 6<a> &c. on to trays 12 on the conveyers, the articles being in turn swept by stationary selfadjusting scrapers 4<g>, 4<h> from the passing conveyer trays or to stationary collecting shelves 7<e>. An additional row of fixed shelves 7, 7<a>, &c. may be provided, and an additional tray 13 on the conveyer, together with an additional collecting shelf 7<e>. The scrapers 4<c> &c. are held by springs in the operative or non-operative position until they are reset in the non-operative or operative position respectively by setting pins. The scrapers carried by the conveyer are set by pins 5<g>, 5<h>, 5<j>, 5<k> on the framework carrying the stationary collecting shelves, and the stationary scrapers are set by pins 25<c>, 25<d>, 25<e>, 25<f> carried by the conveyers. The arrangement is such that, of the scrapers mounted on the conveyers, the forward ones, in the direction of motion, are always inoperative, while the rear ones are operative so long as the conveyer is travelling towards the corresponding collecting shelf, but become inoperative for the rest of the journey. Of the stationary scrapers, the one remoter from an approaching conveyer is operative, the other being inoperative. The motion of the conveyer is reversed by a reversing pole-switch 29 which strikes stops 21<a>, 21<b> at the ends of the track, each end of the switch being provided with a spring buffer. The motor of the conveyer receives current from insulated rails 2<a>, 2<b>. To prevent displacement, the articles may be held down on the conveyer trays by pivoted spring arms 14a, 14b, which ride up over the shelves 6, 7 when the conveyer is passing them. The conveyer tray may also be provided with spring clips 83<a>, Fig. 4, connected with pulleys 85<a> connected by cords 82a to arms 81a. Rails are arranged in suitable positions in the path of the conveyer to act on the arms 81<a> and hold the clips open while additional articles are scraped down on to the tray or while the articles are scraped from the tray to a collecting shelf. Vertical conveying by means of a lift-cage may be combined with borizontal conveying, controlling devices being provided so that one conveyer controls the other so as to obtain correct co-operation. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 10, the conveyer, in running to the right, closes a switch 30<c> which energizes a solenoid 31<e>, operating a relay 52<e> and starting the lift 35 downwards. The Jift reaches the track level and stops at the correct time for the passage of the conveyer and the sweeping on to it of articles carried by the lift. The conveyer, passing on, closes the switch 30<f>, and current again passes to the lift motor. The pole-switch 42 has meantime been reversed by the lug 36<a> on the endless driving chain 37 and the lift travels up. On the return journey of the conveyer, the whole process is repeated. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 11, the lift controls both a horizontallyrunning conveyer and a turntable, the arrangement being such that when the lift is at the top of its travel, the motor 46 receives current and turns the turntable in over the lift-trav 45<b>, a scraper 47 on the lift removing the articles from the turntable to the lift-tray. In another arrangement, shown in Fig. 13, where transport of goods is desired from and between different storeys or levels, at which the trays or shelves are placed, the conveyer runs on to the lift cage. and is lifted or lowered bodily from one level to another, guides 51<d>, 51<e> being provided to prevent the conveyer from falling off the lift.