GB1381717A - Handling means - Google Patents

Abstract

1381717 Orientating articles; vibration conveyers WHARTON ENGS (ELSTREE) Ltd 10 July 1972 [8 April 1971] 9043/71 Headings B8S and B8A Apparatus for separating elongate blocks from a random mass thereof and feeding them singly and in line to a desired location, comprises a support plate 1 which at one end 2 receives the mass of blocks and is inclined and/or vibrated to move the blocks towards the other end of the plate, an arrangement 3 being provided in the path of movement of the objects to separate single blocks from the mass and orientate them into longitudinal alignment with the length of the plate 1 as they are moved therealong. The arrangement 3 comprises a pair of arms 23, 24 mounted on an overhead structure 22 for pvioting movement parallel to the plate 1, the arms 23, 24 forming a V-shape converging in the direction of block travel and forming a gap at the apex of the V opening into a guide channel 4. The arms 23, 24 are pivotable between stops in a sequence whereby with both arms in a position having a minimum angle with the longitudinal centreline of the plate 1, the arm 24 pivots into its position of maximum angle and back to its position of minimum angle, whereafter the arm 23 which until that time has been dwelling, moves to its position of maximum angle and back again whilst the arm 24 dwells. This movement is controlled by a pair of wheels 28, 29 driven in the same direction by a pair of worms 30 on a common drive shaft 31, the wheels incorporating eccentrically positioned bosses 27 which reciprocate drive rods 25, 26 coupled between the arms 23, 24 and the bosses 27 through lost motion means generating the dwell periods of the arm movements. The leading block in the mass will engage the arms and be moved into a position lying alongside the arm having the said maximum angle at that time and as the arm moves back towards its said minimum angle, the leading end of the block passes through the apex gap and engages friction ribs in a tapered entry portion to the guide channel 4. When the said arm again moves towards its maximum angle, the block is pivoted about its engagement with the friction ribs by the apex end of the arm, to align the block with the channel 4 where the block moves on and the following block begins its orientation operation. The vibration of the plate 1 which is resiliently mounted is effected by a shaft 10 eccentrically mounted at one end to a motor driven shaft 8 and adjustably hinged at the other end to the plate 1. Each end of the plate 1 is adjustably spring loaded to support structure to control the amplitude of vibration of the plate.