GB734272A - Improvements in and relating to conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

734,272. Conveyers. BAKER PERKINS, Ltd. April 24, 1953 [Jan. 25, 1952], No. 2149/52. Class 78 (1). Articles travelling with regular spacing are formed into batches or vice versa by a plurality of independent article-receiving surfaces or article-engaging members which are driven independently and successively at progressively different, speeds by direct engagement either directly or through the intermediary of lengths of chain connected to the members with sprocket wheels driven at progressively different pitch circle velocities, the sprocket wheels being spaced such that each member or associated chain can only be engaged by one of the sprocket wheels at a time. As shown, two pairs of duplex chains 5, 7 are arranged in a pair of guide tracks 26, one each side of the machine so that while one pair is engaged with a pair of sprockets 2 rotating clockwise (Fig. 3), at a fast peripheral speed, the other pair is engaged with a pair of sprockets 3 rotating in the same direction at a slower peripheral speed. The trailing ends of the pairs of chains 5, 7 are secured to the leading ends 39 of flexible plaques 4, 6 respectively, which are thereby moved over a table 40 by the chains so that one plaque is moving faster than the other for half a cycle and vice versa during the other half cycle. The plaque travelling at the faster speed is always the one passing over the end of table 40 adjacent thesprockets 3 while the slower plaque is always the one passing over the end of table 40 adjacent the sprockets 2. In operation, articles fed continuously by a feed belt 22, tensioned by a spring-pressed roller 49, on to the plaques, travel at first at a slow speed, and as the plaque on which they are resting reaches the delivery end of table 40 the articles are speeded up to-space them in batches equal in length to the length of each plaque, the batches being removed by a delivery belt 23 moving at a faster speed than the feed belt 22. A continuous support for the plaques is ensured by rollers 32, 33 extending between the sprocket of each pair 2, 3, for rotation therewith and guide rods 41 for the lower run. Axial grooves 43, 44 are provided in the peripheries of the rollers 32, 33 to accommodate the connecting means in the form of trans. verse rods securing the leading ends of the plaques to the trailing ends of the chains 5, 7. Also to ensure that the trailing ends of the plaques remain in close relationship to the roller 33 as they pass around it, bores 35, 37 are drilled in roller 33 arranged so that during rotation the bores 37 register with a suction box 38 at the same time as the bores 35 come under the trailing edges of the plaques. The sprockets 2, 3 and the belts 22, 23 are all driven in suitable timed relation through a drive chain, not shown, engaging suitably proportioned sprockets on the various drive shafts.