GB2323829A

GB2323829A - Rail switch

Info

Publication number: GB2323829A
Application number: GB9723044A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Maxwell Walker; Arthur Denis Howarth
Original assignee: Salpomec Oy; STOCKRAIL Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: Salpomec Oy; STOCKRAIL Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date: 1996-12-06
Filing date: 1997-11-03
Publication date: 1998-10-07
Also published as: GB9723044D0; GB9625388D0

Abstract

A rail switch comprises a first rail 4 and at least two branch rails 6, 8, each branch rail having a limb 10, 12, pivotally connected thereto, each limb being movable between raised and lowered positions, but only one limb at a time capable of adopting that position which enables transfer from the first rail to the branch rail. As shown, the other limb is held out of the way by rockable magnetic means 22. To switch limbs, the limb in the transfer position is knocked upwardly to impact magnetic means 22, dislodging the other limb so that it falls into the transfer position. The system may be used for sorting garments, &c.

Description

Rail Switch This invention relates to rail switches, and more specifically to mechanical switches used in rail systems at locations in said systems where it is required to divide a single rail into a number of branch rails, or where a number of branch rails meet and continue in a single rail. Such rails generally allow a hanger, carrying an item such as a garment, to be slid or propelled therealong by hand, and systems of such rails may be installed in warehouses where it is required to move large numbers of items on hangers from one location to another location.

Although the following description of the invention is directed towards rail systems for locating large numbers of garments on hangers within a warehouse, it will be appreciated that the rail systems described may be easily adapted to carry other items on hangers, for instance animal carcasses in a slaughterhouse.

Furthermore, the following description relates to the division of a single rail into one or more branch rails on which the hangers and their associated items slide to different locations within the warehouse depending on certain selection criteria. It is to be understood, however, that the invention works equally in reverse, where it is required to move hangers on a number of different rails onto a single rail in turn.

Rail systems presently in existence in garment warehouses generally have at least one receiving rail onto which a large number of garments on hangers are loaded, usually from a container. Said garments are sorted according to the style, size and colour as they are deposited onto the rail if not already so sorted in the container, and either manually or automatically fed through the rail system to their ultimate location within the warehouse. Such garment warehouse often have handling capacities of in excess of 200000 garments at any one time, and it will therefore be appreciated that such rail systems are a necessary efficiency measure.

Large numbers of particular styles, sizes and colours of garments may be loaded onto the receiving rail when the garments enter the warehouse, and certain quantities of each garment are generally allocated to particular retail outlets around the country. Large numbers of garments leave the warehouse for each of these outlets at different locations, and it is therefore necessary to provide branch rails from the receiving rail to each of these locations, and also to provide a switching means to enable a warehouse operator to select a particular branch rail, and thus the ultimate destination of a batch of garments on the receiving rail. Such switches must allow the hangers to slide unhindered over the junction point of the receiving rail and the branch rail, and must be simply and quickly operable by a person in the warehouse.

There currently exist a number of switches configurations, each of which has inherent drawbacks. In a particular configuration, a branch rail situated above and to one side of the receiving rail is provided with a limb which can rotate between a raised and a lowered condition. The limb touches the receiving rail when in its lowered condition, and thus garment hangars moved along the receiving rail are transferred to the branch rail at this point. When not in use, the limb is manually upwardly rotated and is held in its raised condition by a magnet, thus allowing garment hangers to travel along the receiving rail unhindered. This configuration is disadvantaged in that vibrations and knocks which the rail system may receive are occasionally sufficient to dislodge the limb from the magnet, and the limb may thus fall under gravity into its lowered condition and touch the receiving rail with the result that garments may be incorrectly allocated. Furthermore, the working environment is such that the limb is likely to be subjected to large numbers of rotations between its raised and lowered condition, and also to forces exerted manually, and in both cases the limb is susceptible to early failure.

In a similar configuration, the limb is supported in its raised condition by a manually operated catch underneath the limb, the catch being dislodged to allow the limb to fall under gravity into its lowered condition. Such a configuration also suffers from the disadvantages mentioned above, and from the further disadvantage that the catch is fiddly to operate.

An alternative configuration of switch allows a limb at the end of the receiving rail to be rotated in a horizontal plane between a number of positions corresponding to the number of branch rails at the switch. The limb is hinged to allow horizontal rotational movement and a degree of vertical rotational movement to allow the end of the limb to be lifted from one branch rail, rotated into position above a second branch rail, and dropped onto said second branch rail. The inherent disadvantage of this configuration is the likely failure of the hinge on the limb after only relatively few changes between branch rails, as the forces applied to the limb by operators is often indiscriminate and does not take account of the nature of the hinge. When the limb is lifted from any of the branch rails, a counter-weighted catch pivoted towards the end of the branch rail rotates as the counter-weight falls under gravity and brings the catch into a vertical position at the end of the rail. This catch is intended to prevent hangers from slipping off a branch rail when the limb is positioned on an alternative branch rail, but said catch is largely ineffective because the rotation of the catch is often impeded.

It is an object of this invention to provide a sturdy rail switch which can withstand the forces commonly encountered in this particular working environment and exerted by careless operators, and which is simple in operation and does not involve the use of fragile components.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a rail switch which ensures easy transfer of hangers and their associated garments (or other items carried thereby) between receiving rails and branch rails of a rail system.

It is a yet further object of the invention to provide a rail switch which is secure and which will not alter its conditions as a result of random vibrations or knocks commonly encountered in the working environment.

According to the invention, there is provided a rail switch comprising a receiving rail and at least two branch rails each provided with a limb pivotally connected thereto, each limb capable of adopting a raised and a lowered position, but only one limb capable of adopting that position which permits sliding transfer of a hanger from the receiving rail over said limb to the branch rail-the transfer position-at any one instant, the alternate limb being maintained in the alternate position, characterised in that the switch between rails is effected by communication of the limbs of the branch rails with respective interaction means which allows the alternate limb to occupy the transfer position only after said position has been vacated by the limb originally occupying said position.

Preferably, the alternate limb is maintained in the alternate position by magnetic means, and further preferably the magnetic means is rockable and the switch between branch rails is effected by dislodging the limb in the transfer position and impacting and rocking said magnetic means therewith, the combination of the impact of said limb with said rocking magnetic means and the reduction in facial contact of the alternate limb therewith being sufficient to release the magnetic attraction therebetweeen and allow the alternate limb to adopt the transfer position, the rocking magnetic means maintaining the impacting limb in the alternate position.

Preferably, the limb in the transfer position permits sliding transfer of garment hangers from the receiving rail over that limb to the branch rail.

Preferably the limbs are loosely pivoted to the branch rails and the magnetic means is located thereabove thus permitting free fall of a limb released therefrom under gravity into the transfer position.

It is yet further preferable that guide means guide a limb moving between the alternate position and the transfer position and ensure correct location of said limb adjacent the end of the receiving rail.

Preferably the magnetic means are capable of maintaining at least a pair of limbs of branch rails in the alternate position, and that a limb of a third or further branch rail pivotally connected thereto is capable of adopting the transfer position when said pair of limbs are in the raised position, and be capable of being maintained in the raised position otherwise.

Further preferably, the limb of said third or further branch rail is maintained in the alternate position by friction at the pivot.

Most preferably, the limb of said third or further branch is seldom used, as positioning of this limb in the transfer position involves a greater number of operator actions than required to switch the limbs of the pair of branch rails as described above.

In an alternative aspect of the invention, the respective interaction means incorporates suction means to maintain a limb in either the transfer position or the alternate position, said suction means releasing said limb after interaction of the alternate limb therewith.

The invention has advantage over prior art switch configurations in that a discreet upward push on the limb in the transfer position releases the limb in the raised position which then falls into the transfer position, the pushed limb being maintained in a raised position by the magnet. Thus only one operator action is required to effect the switch between branch rails, and the components involved are sufficiently substantial to withstand repeated knocks.

Furthermore, the switch is extremely simple to operate.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the switch arrangement of the invention; Figure 2 shows an elevation of the magnet block used in the invention and shown in Figure 1; Figure 2a shows the magnet block of Figure 2 at the point of impact of a branch rail limb, and Figure 3 shows an alternative position of the magnet block of Figure 2 Referring firstly to Figure 1, a rail switch configuration according to the invention is shown generally at 2, and comprises a receiving rail 4, two branch rails 6, 8 provided with limbs 10, 12 respectively which are pivotally connected to the branch rails 6, 8 at hinges 14, 16. The rotational axis of said hinges is shown for the hinge 14 by the dotted line 18 and for reference, a horizontal rotational axis is shown generally at 20. Thus it can be seen that the rotation of the limb 10 about the hinge 14 is not only vertical, but also lateral in order that the limb 10 is rotated up from and to one side of the receiving rail 4 simultaneously. The hinge 16 is similarly configured.

A magnet block 22 with perpendicular faces 22a, 22b is pivotally mounted on a support arm 24 by a pivot 26 which is substantially centrally located on the face 22a. The rotation of the magnet block 22 about said pivot 26 is restricted such that said magnet block may effect a rocking motion about said pivot. The magnet block 22 is further provided with two bar magnets 28, 30 which are suitably attached to the magnet block. In an alternative configuration, the bar magnets 28, 30 may be replaced by integrally moulded protrusions of the block 22, which may itself be magnetised.

The pivot and/or the magnet block may additionally incorporate springing means (not shown) to maintain the block 22 in either of the tilted positions shown in Figures 2, 3. Also, the magnet block 22 is substantially centrally positioned over the receiving rail 4 such that the bar magnets 28, 30 are positioned on either side of said rail.

A hanger 32 with an associated garment 32 hung thereon is shown on the receiving rail 4, with its curved portion surrounding the near side of the rail 4. It is to be appreciated that the various receiving and branch rail supports (not shown for the purposes of clarity) are positioned to allow sliding travel of the hanger in this position throughout the system of rails, and that simple reversal of said supports would facilitate the travel of the hangars positioned on the receiving rail 4 with their curved portion surrounding the far side of the rail.

In Figure 1, the limb 12 of the branch rail 8 is shown in a lowered condition such that its free end is flush with the free end of the receiving rail 4. The flush positioning of either of the limbs 10,12 may be facilitated by guide means (not shown), but such guide means must not hinder the sliding travel of the hanger 32 and others like it over the join of receiving rail 4 and either limb in a lowered condition. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, hanger 32 may be slidingly transferred from the receiving rail 4 to the branch rail 8.

To switch between branch rails 6 and 8, and thus ultimate destinations of the garment 34, the switch 2 is operated as follows: A sharp upward force is applied to the underside of the limb 12 which is thus rotated as described above, and as shown by arrow 36 in Figure 2, and subsequently impacts the bar magnet 28. Said impact is transferred through the magnet block 22 and is transmitted to the limb 10 across the face of the bar magnet 30 to which it is attached, and depending on the magnitude of the impact, such transferal across said face may result in the limb 10 being released from the bar magnet 30. Furthermore, the impact of limb 12 on the bar magnet 28 may cause additional rotation of the magnet block 22 as shown in Figure 2a, such that the facial contact of the limb 10 and the bar magnet 30 is reduced to only a point contact, as shown. This has the effect of markedly reducing the magnetic flux linking the limb 10 and the bar magnet 30, and in certain circumstances the remaining magnetic flux may be insufficient to hold the limb which is thus released as shown in Figure 3.

The combination of the transfer to the limb 10 of the impact of the limb 12 on the magnet block 22, and the additional rotation thereof and resultant separation of the faces of the limb 10 and the bar magnet 30 caused by said impact cause release of the limb 10.

Hinges 14, 16 are loosely constructed such that on release of limb 10 from the bar magnet 30, said limb may fall under gravity and freely rotate into the correct position adjacent the receiving rail 4.

The sharp upward force will generally be removed on impact of the limb 12 with the bar magnet 28, but the magnetic flux linkage between said limb and bar magnet is sufficient to maintain the connection therebetween, and the limb 12 is thus maintained in the raised condition as shown in Figure 3.

The pivot 26 and the magnet block 22 may be optionally sprung such that alternate impacts on bar magnets 28, 30 cause rotation of the magnet block between the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. If such springing is employed, the resting orientation of the magnet block 22 may be such as to ensure complete facial contact between each limb in their raised condition, and the bar magnets which maintain them there.

The invention thus provides a swift and simple means of switching between a pair of rails which are adapted to carry hangers.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), both of the limbs 10, 12 may be maintained in a raised condition by respective bar magnets 30, 28 while a third limb attached to an auxiliary rail may be positioned adjacent the free end of the receiving rail 4. Said third limb is manually raised and lowered as required, and is maintained in a raised condition by a frictional hinge, and does not interfere with the working of the switch of the invention.

The switches of the invention may be employed in various configurations, e.g. in combination with the embodiment described above, two inlet rails may be divided into five outlet rails, effectively creating a five-way switch.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A rail switch comprising a receiving rail and at least two branch rails each provided with a limb pivotally connected thereto, each limb capable of adopting a raised and a lowered position, but only one limb capable of adopting that position which permits sliding transfer of a hanger from the receiving rail over said limb to the branch rail-the transfer position-at any one instant, the alternate limb being maintained in the alternate position, characterised in that the switch between rails is effected by communication of the limbs of the branch rails with respective interaction means which allows the alternate limb to occupy the transfer position only after said position has been vacated by the limb originally occupying said position.

2. A rail switch according to claim 1 wherein the limb of the branch rail not occupying the transfer position is maintained in the alternate position by magnetic means.

3. A rail switch according to claim 2 wherein the magnetic means is rockable and transmits an impact to such an extent that the limb occupying the alternate position and maintained thereat by said magnetic means is dislodged by impacting the limb in the transfer position therewith to rock said magnetic means and reduce facial contact of the alternate limb therewith, said alternate limb being allowed to adopt the transfer position while the rocking magnetic means maintains the impacting limb in the alternate position.

4. A rail switch according to any of the preceding claims wherein the limb in the transfer position permits sliding transfer of garment hangers from the receiving rail over that limb to the branch rail.

5. A rail switch according to any of claims 2-4 wherein the limbs are loosely pivoted to the branch rails and the magnetic means is located thereabove thus permitting free fall of a limb released therefrom under gravity into the transfer position.

6. A rail switch according to any of the preceding claims wherein guide means guide a limb moving between the alternate position and the transfer position and ensure correct location of said limb adjacent the end of the receiving rail.

7. A rail switch according to any of claims 2-6 wherein the magnetic means are capable of maintaining at least a pair of limbs of branch rails in the alternate position, and that a limb of a third or further branch rail pivotally connected thereto is capable of adopting the transfer position when said pair of limbs are in the raised position, and be capable of being maintained in the raised position otherwise.

8. A rail switch according to claim 7 wherein the limb of said third or further branch rail is maintained in the alternate position by friction at the pivot.

9. A rail switch according to claim 1 wherein the respective interaction means incorporates suction means to maintain a limb in either the transfer position or the alternate position, said suction means releasing said limb after interaction of the alternate limb therewith.