GB2041311A - Devices for Controlling the Merging of Two Streams of Conveyed Articles - Google Patents

Devices for Controlling the Merging of Two Streams of Conveyed Articles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2041311A
GB2041311A GB7904071A GB7904071A GB2041311A GB 2041311 A GB2041311 A GB 2041311A GB 7904071 A GB7904071 A GB 7904071A GB 7904071 A GB7904071 A GB 7904071A GB 2041311 A GB2041311 A GB 2041311A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
lane
articles
locked state
lanes
actuated
Prior art date
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Granted
Application number
GB7904071A
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GB2041311B (en
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COLLINS Ltd B
Original Assignee
COLLINS Ltd B
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by COLLINS Ltd B filed Critical COLLINS Ltd B
Priority to GB7904071A priority Critical patent/GB2041311B/en
Publication of GB2041311A publication Critical patent/GB2041311A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2041311B publication Critical patent/GB2041311B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/52—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices
    • B65G47/68—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor lane and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor lane or to one broader conveyor lane, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor
    • B65G47/681—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor lane and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor lane or to one broader conveyor lane, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor from distinct, separate conveyor lanes

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)

Abstract

A device (10) for controlling flow of articles travelling along first and second lanes (5, 6) which converge to a third lane (7) so that articles from both the first and second lanes do not simultaneously pass through the region of convergence of the first and second lanes, comprising; first means (pivoted cam plate 11 and stop arm 12) for association with the first lane, and having a free or rest state and a locked state, the first means when its locked state being adapted to prevent release of articles from the first lane to the third lane and when in its free state being adapted to sense and be actuated by articles travelling along the first lane; and second means (pivoted cam plate 11' and stop arm 12') for association with the second lane, and having a free or rest state and a locked state, the second means when in its locked state being adapted to prevent release of articles from the second lane to the third lane and when in its free state being adapted to sense and be actuated by articles travelling along the second lane. Actuation of either of the first and second means causes the other means to be put into its locked state. When only one of the first and second means senses an article, that means is actuated to put the other means into its locked state and when both of the first and second means sense articles only the second means is actuated whereby only articles travelling along the first lane are prevented from being released to the third lane. This is accomplished in the embodiment by pivoting the cam plate 11 on the free end of a pair of radius links 15 which can swing about the axis of the pivot of the other cam plate 11', the arrangement being controlled by springs 18, 18' swinging of links 15 resulting in roller 20' being caused to enter recess 21 of the cam plate 11 under such conditions, whereby articles from both the first and second lanes cannot meet at the region of convergence and cause a jam or otherwise interfere with the flow of articles along the third lane away from the region of convergence. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Policeman Units and Like Devices Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device of the type for controlling the flow of articles travelling along two lanes, referred to herein as first and second lanes respectively, which converge to a single third lane. The device prevents articles from both the first and second lanes simultaneously passing through the region of convergence of the first and second lanes. Thus articles from both first and second lanes cannot meet at the region of convergence and cause a jam or otherwise interfere with the flow of articles along the third lane away from the region of convergence.
Devices of the type referred to are commonly known as"policeman units".
Background of the Invention A known device of the type referred to is the "Tatco" unit made by Colemans. This device is believed to work on an overcentre lever principle and requires a considerable operating pressure from the articles being conveyed to function. Thus the unit is suitable only for a limited number of heavier applications.
Another known device of the type referred to is a unit comprising a complex electric or pneumatic control system with sensors and stops actuated by the control system to hold or release articles on each of the first and second lanes. The unit is costly to build and maintain and can handle only one size or a limited range of sizes of articles due to the sensing problems inherent in the control system.
Description of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for controlling flow of articles travelling along first and second lanes which converge to a third lane so that articles from both the first and second lanes do not simultaneously pass through the region of convergence of the first and second lanes, comprising: first means for association with the first lane, and having a free or rest state and a locked state, the first means when its locked state being adapted to prevent release of articles from the first lane to the third lane and when in its free state being adapted to sense and be actuated by articles travelling along the first lane; and second means for association with the second lane, and having a free or rest state and a locked state, the second means when in its locked state being adapted to prevent release of articles from the second lane to the third lane and when in its free state being adapted to sense and be actuated by articles travelling along the second lane; actuation of either of the first and second means causing the other means to be put into its locked state; wherein when only one of the first and second means senses an article, that means is actuated to put the other means into its locked state and when both of the first and second means sense articles only the second means is actuated whereby only articles travelling along the first lane are prevented from being released to the third lane.
In operation of the device, articles from both the first and second lanes do not simultaneously pass through the region of convergence. Thus articles from both the first and second lanes cannot meet at the region of convergence and cause a jam or otherwise interfere with the flow of articles along the third lane away from the region of convergence.
Also, if articles travelling respectively along the first and second lanes are simultaneously sensed by both the first and second means, only the first means is put into its locked state and thus the article from the second lane is allowed to pass to the region of convergence and thence to the third lane before the article from the first lane. Thus the flow of articles to the third lane is not stopped by both the first and second means simultaneously sensing articles travelling along the respective lanes.
It is envisaged that the device according to the invention will be useful in conveyor systems, packaging handling systems, sorting systems, general materials handling and production machinery for the manufacturing and distribution industries.
When more than two lanes converge to one lane, a plurality of devices in accordance with the invention may be used, the lanes converging in pairs and a device according to the invention being associated with each pair of converging lanes.
Preferably each of the first and second means comprise a movable member and when either one of the means is actuated the respective member moves to lock the other member in position whereby the other means is put into its locked state.
Preferably the movable member of each means is shaped to interengage the movable member of the other means when the former means is actuated to thereby lock the latter member in position.
Preferably each movable member has attached thereto an article-engaging member which extends into the respective lane for serving to sense articles in that lane when the means is in its free state and to prevent release of articles from that lane when the means is in its locked state.
Preferably each of the movable members is pivotally mounted. Preferably the movable member of the first means is pivotal about a first axis which is itself movable and, when both means sense a respective article, the first movable member and the first axis move to allow the second member to lock the first member in position. Preferably the first axis is pivotally movable about a second axis about which the movable member of the second means is pivotal.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a conveyor system incorporating a device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a section along line Ill-Ill of Figure 2.
Referring to Figure 1, a conveyor system comprises a first conveyor 1, a second conveyor 2 and a third conveyor 3. Guide rails 4 define a first lane 5 extending above the first conveyor, a second lane 6 extending above the second conveyor and a third lane 7 extending above the third conveyor, the first and second lanes converging, at a region of convergence 8, to the third lane. Adjacent the region of convergence 8 and between the first lane 5 and the second lane 6 is disposed a device 10 according to the invention.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the device 10 comprises two cam plates 11 and 11' to which are attached arms 12 and 12' extending into the first and second lanes 5 and 6 respectively. The two cam plates 11 and 11' are each pivoted about a spindle 13 or 13'. The spindle 13' is fixed rigidly to a base plate 14. The other spindle 1 3 is pivoted about the fixed spindle 1 2 to radius links 15.
A stop bar 1 6 is attached to the lower radius link 14 and two stop pieces 1 7 are attached to the base plate 14 to limit pivotal movement of the stop bar 1 6 and hence of the spindle 1 3 about the spindle 13'.
Two tension springs 1 8 and 18' are attached to the cam plates 11 and 11' respectively and to the base plate 14 to bias the cam plates to rest positions shown in Figure 2.
A rubber buffer 1 9 is attached to one cam plate to absorb impact between the cam plates when returning to their rest positions.
A roller 20 is fitted to each cam plate and each cam plate is shaped with an arcuate recess 21 or 21'.
In operation, articles are fed by side transfer from an external infeed conveyor (not shown) to the conveyor 1, the conveyor 1 travelling at three to four times the speed of the external conveyor so that the articles are spaced along the conveyor 1. Also, articles are fed by end transfer from an external infeed conveyor (not shown) to the conveyor 2, the conveyor 2 travelling at three to four times the speed of the external conveyor so that the articles are spaced along the conveyor 2.
The articles carried on the conveyors 1 and 2 are carried along the lanes 5 and 6 to the lane 7, the articles being guided by the guide rails 4 and the flow of the articles being controlled by the device 10 is described below.
Assuming that both arms 12 and 12' are in their rest positions and an article travelling along the lane 5 reaches the arm 12, the article acts on the arm 12 to pivot the arm about the spindle 1 3.
The cam plate 11 is thus rotated into the recess 21' in the other cam plate 11' thereby locking the cam plate 11' and the arm 12'. Thus articles which reach the arm 12' whilst the cam plate 11' is locked in position are prevented from passing further along the lane 6 to be released to the third lane 7.
When the article travelling along the lane 5 has passed by the arm 12, the arm 12 and the cam plate 11 return to their rest position thereby returning the cam plate 11' to its free state in which it can pivot about the spindle 13'.
Similarly, assuming that both arms 12 and 12' are in their rest positions and an article reaches the arm 12', the article acts on the arm 12' to pivot the arm about the spindle 13'.
The cam plate 11' is thus rotated into the recess 21 in the other cam plate 11 thereby locking the cam plate 11 and the arm 1 2. The articles which reach the arm 12 whilst the cam plate 11 is locked in position are prevented from passing further along the lane 5 to be released to the third lane. When the article travelling along the lane 6 has passed by the arm 12', the arm 12' and the cam plate 11' return to their rest position thereby restoring the cam plate 11 to its free state in which it can pivot about the spindle 1 3.
If an article reaches the arm 12 simultaneously with an article reach7ng the arm 12', both arms will start turning and the rollers 20 will meet. The force applied to the arm 1 2 will cause the spring 1 8 to extend and the radius links 1 5 to pivot about the spindle 13' allowing the roller 20 to come within the recess inCe czrmplate 11.
The cam plate 11' and the arm 12' then rotate and release the article from the lane 6 to the lane 7 while locking the cam plate 11 in position.
After the article travelling along the lane 6 has passed therm 12', the arm 12' and the cam plate 11' return to their rest position and the article travelling along the lane 5 is released to the lane 7, the latter article, as it passes and engages the arm 12 causing the cam plate 11' and the arm 12' to be locked in position; Thus it will be appreciaterdthat the-dej)ee cannot achieve a condition in which both cam plates 11 and 11' both are locked but, if necessary gives preference to articles inthesecond lane 6.
It will be appreciated that the conveyors 1 and 2 are run at three to four times the speed of the infeed conveyors to ensure that the articles on the conveyors 1 and 2 are satisfactorily spaced. This is to prevent articles from one of the lanes 5 and 6 streaming through continuously to the lane 7 whilst articles on the other of the lanes 5 and 6 are completely held back.
The device shown in the drawings can handle different sizes of articles within the capability of the conveyors and the size of the arms can be selected in accordance with the size of the articles being conveyed and the dimensions of the conveyors. Also the device is cheaper to manufacture than the known devices referred to above.

Claims (10)

Claims
1. A device for controlling flow of articles travelling along first and second lanes which converge to a third lane so that articles from both the first and second lanes do not simultaneously pass through the region of convergence of the first and second lanes, comprising; first means for association with the first lane, and having a free or rest state and a locked state, the first means when its locked state being adapted to prevent release of articles from the first lane to the third lane and when in its free state being adapted to sense and be actuated by articles travelling along the first lane; and second means for association with the second lane, and having a free or rest state and a locked state, the second means when its locked state being adapted to prevent release of articles from the second lane to the third lane and when in its free state being adapted to sense and be actuated by articles travelling along the second lane; actuation of either of the first and second means causing the other means to be put into its locked state; wherein when only one of the first and second means senses an article, that means is actuated to put the other means into its locked state and when both of the first and second means sense articles only the second means is actuated whereby only articles travelling along the first lane are prevented from being released to the third iane.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second means comprise a movable member and when either one of the means is actuated the respective member moves to lock the other member in position whereby the other means is put into its locked state.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the movable member of each means is shaped to interengage the movable member of the other means when the former means is actuated to thereby lock the latter member in position.
4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein each movable member has attached thereto an article-engaging member which extends into respective lane for serving to sense articles in that lane when the means is in its free state and to prevent release of articles from that lane when the means is in its locked state.
5. A device according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein each of the movable members is pivotally mounted.
6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the movable member of the first means is pivotal about an axis (referred to subsequently as "the first axis") which is itself movable and, when both means sense a respective article, the first movable member and said axis move to allow the second member to lock the first member in position.
7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the first axis is pivotally movable about a second axis about which the movable member of the second means is pivotal.
8. A device according to claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to and as iilustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.
9. A conveyor system having first and second lanes which converge to a third lane, the conveyor system including means for effecting flow of articles along each of the first and second lanes to the region of convergence of the first and second lanes and for effecting flow of articles along the third lane away from the region of convergence, the conveyor system further comprising a device according to any preceding claim, ths first means of the device being associated with the first lane and when in its locked state preventing release of articles from the first lane to the third lane and when in its free state sensing and being actuated by articles travelling along the first lane, and the second means of the device being associated with the second lane and when in its locked state preventing release of articles from the second lane to the third lane and when in its free state sensing and being actuated by articles travelling along the second line.
10. A conveyor system according to claim 9, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB7904071A 1979-02-06 1979-02-06 Devices for controlling the merging of two streams of conveyed articles Expired GB2041311B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7904071A GB2041311B (en) 1979-02-06 1979-02-06 Devices for controlling the merging of two streams of conveyed articles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7904071A GB2041311B (en) 1979-02-06 1979-02-06 Devices for controlling the merging of two streams of conveyed articles

Publications (2)

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GB2041311A true GB2041311A (en) 1980-09-10
GB2041311B GB2041311B (en) 1982-11-10

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2123375A (en) * 1982-07-05 1984-02-01 Post Office Improved conveyor feeding device
GB2272413A (en) * 1992-11-11 1994-05-18 Focke & Co Apparatus for the transport of stacks of blanks.
EP0787654A1 (en) * 1996-01-26 1997-08-06 Teepack Spezialmaschinen Gmbh & Co. Kg Method and apparatus for transferring filled bags from a transport system with two lanes to a transport system woth one lane
CN110668146A (en) * 2019-11-07 2020-01-10 含山县官塘石壁茶厂 Material lifting machine for tea processing

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2123375A (en) * 1982-07-05 1984-02-01 Post Office Improved conveyor feeding device
GB2272413A (en) * 1992-11-11 1994-05-18 Focke & Co Apparatus for the transport of stacks of blanks.
GB2272413B (en) * 1992-11-11 1996-06-26 Focke & Co Apparatus for the transport of stacks of blanks
US5582282A (en) * 1992-11-11 1996-12-10 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co.) Apparatus for the transport of stacks of blanks
EP0787654A1 (en) * 1996-01-26 1997-08-06 Teepack Spezialmaschinen Gmbh & Co. Kg Method and apparatus for transferring filled bags from a transport system with two lanes to a transport system woth one lane
CN110668146A (en) * 2019-11-07 2020-01-10 含山县官塘石壁茶厂 Material lifting machine for tea processing

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Publication number Publication date
GB2041311B (en) 1982-11-10

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732 Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee