GB786199A - Improvements in or relating to information storage devices and materials handling apparatus including same - Google Patents

Abstract

786,199. Conveyers. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., Ltd. Sept. 6, 1955 [Sept. 6, 1954], No. 25793/54. Class 78 (1). Apparatus for predetermining one of a number of operations to be performed on each of successive batches of material fed on a conveyer comprises storage means for containing a plurality of differing tokens each having a characteristic corresponding to a particular operation, means for selecting from the storage means in respect of each batch of material a token corresponding to the particular operation required to be performed, means for causing the selected tokens to be delivered in the selected order to an identifying device, and means responsive to the identifying device for causing the selected operations to be performed on the successive batches as they leave the conveyer. As shown, waggons each carrying one of three different grades of coal are emptied in turn by a tippler 2 on to a conveyer belt 1 provided with feelers 22, 23 for detecting the presence of a tipped batch of coal. The feelers 22, 23 operate in conjunction with a gap timer 21 to prevent a second actuation of the tippler until the first tipped batch of coal has passed the second feeler. This results in spaced batches of coal being delivered to a conveyer belt 3. As each batch is tipped on to belt 1, an operator depresses a switch 12, 13 or 14 according to the grade of coal so as to cause the release of a ball 8 of appropriate size from one of three hoppers 9, 10, 11 into a tube 18. The balls in tube 18 form themselves into a line against an outlet gate 19, the number of balls in the line corresponding to the number of batches of coal on the belt 3 so that the first ball in the line corresponds to the batch approaching the delivery end of belt 3. This batch now passes under feelers 24, 25 which, when both are raised, are adapted to operate the outlet gate 19 to release the corresponding ball, which passes to a shoot 26 the floor of which has a slot of gradually increasing width to gauge the ball, which passes to a corresponding chamber 27, 28 or 29, and in so doing, closes an appropriate switch 30, 31 or 32 in the controlling circuit of a system of delivery flaps, whereby the batch, after leaving belt 3, is delivered down the appropriate one of three shoots 4, 5. or 6. The balls, after actuating the switches 30-32, are returned to their respective hoppers 9-11 by an elevator 34 delivering to a shoot 35 having a gauging slot similar to that of shoot 26. Instead of gauging the size of the balls, their weight may be determined. Cylindrical rollers of differing lengths may be used in place of the balls.