GB1407846A - Elevators - Google Patents

Abstract

1407846 Endless conveyers having tiltable trays SOVEX Ltd 7 Nov 1973 [5 Dec 1972] 56107/72 Heading B8A Trays 1 carried by members 4 mounted on endless conveyer chains 3, are each tiltable at a selected discharge station about a bearing 6 carried by the respective member 4 to discharge documents to a shoot 2. The arrangement is such that the free edge of the tray moves with an upward component of movement, i.e. in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the conveyer. Each tray has a guide roller 17 which is engageable at a selected discharge station with a channel formed in a member 15 (shown in full lines in Fig. 2 in its normal position, i.e. when a tray is not to be discharged at the associated station; and shown only diagramatically in Fig. 1 in broken lines). At a station at which discharge has been selected, the member 15 is moved to the positions shown in dot-dash lines (Fig. 2), thus tilting the tray as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 1. The outer lip of the tray (at the limit of tilting movement of the latter) may be caused to actually overhang the upstream end of the shoot 2. The stations at which the tray is to be discharged, may be selected by push buttons and associated actuating rods 11 as described in Specification 1,217,018. Other Specifications referred to are 1,132,643, 1,098,274 and 1,098,273. In a modification (Fig. 4), instead of using the member 15 the roller 17, at a selected discnarge station, is guided by a member 21 into a fixed guide track 40. When the tray is to pass through the station without being tilted to a discharge position, the roller 17 follows a linear guide surface 43. The guide member 21 is moved into position by a linkage 19, 20 operated by the camming action of the projecting end of the appropriate selector rod 11. A further linkage 30, and latch 31, holds the guide member 21 positively in position. In a modification (Fig. 3, not shown), the latch 31 is dispensed with, and the member 21 is spring biased to the broken-line position. The linkages may be replaced by an electric solenoid system. The trays may be discharged on both rising as well as descending runs of the conveyer. The documents may be arranged to discharge selectively over the front or rear edge of the tray.