GB788799A - Improvements in or relating to segregator conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

788,799. Conveyers delivering articles at predetermined positions. TRACK INSTALLATIONS, Ltd. May 22, 1956 [Feb. 22, 1955; March 12, 1956], Nos. 5204/55 and 7600/56. Class 78 (1). A conveyer for sorting garments on hooked hangers by distributing them to a plurality of collecting points consists of a pair of endless chains between which are carried at intervals cross-bars, each cross-bar either being formed as or carrying a worm on which the hook of a hanger may be selectively placed by engaging it between two juxtaposed turns of the worm, collecting rails disposed at intervals with their reclining ends at the side of the conveyer, and means for turning each worm a definite amount to move the hook transversely as it passes between successive rails so that after the worm has been turned sufficiently, the hook is dislodged and received by a particular rail, depending on the initial positioning of the hook within the width of the conveyer. In one form, Figs. 2 and 5, each cross-bar 24 is rotatably mounted in journals 23 carried by brackets 22 secured to links of the chains 15 which carry rollers 21 engaging guide tracks 19. The cross-bar is formed with two helical grooves 25 of opposite hand such that the hook 31 of a hanger 29 may be placed by an operator in one of the grooves at a predetermined distance from the corresponding outer end of the crossbar. The operator takes each hanger from a supply rail 32 provided with a scale and preferably having guide means associated with the latter to facilitate placement of each hanger on a cross-bar in accordance with its desired destination. Alternatively, the operator may place the hanger in a corresponding position along a loading rail which is afterwards moved automatically in timed relation with the movement of the cross-bars past the loading position to deposit the hanger on a passing cross-bar. Collecting rails 34, which may be vibrated, are disposed at spaced intervals along the sides of the conveyer at an incline to take away collected hangers by gravity, the receiving ends of the rails being disposed below the blank portions of the cross-bars just beyond the outer terminations of their grooves. Stationary racks 27 are disposed on one side of the conveyer slightly in advance of the positions of the collecting rails and engage pinions 26 on the cross-bars such that each cross-bar is turned through one revolution between two adjacent collecting rails. When a particular cross-bar reaches the collecting rail predetermined by the position of the hanger on it, the first part of the rotation of the cross-bar moves the hook 31 on to the blank portion of the cross-bar. During the remainder of the rotation of the cross-bar a lug 37 on the cross-bar engages the end of the hook, lifts it off the cross-bar and deposits it on the rail 34. In a modification, Fig. 11, each cross-bar 124 is fixed in the brackets 22 and carries two independently rotatable sleeves in the form of open springs 125 providing the helical grooves. The blank portions are formed by closed-up convolutions of the spring. The lifting lugs 137 are carried by pinions 126, one being secured to each spring for engagement by separate sets of racks 27 so that the spacing of the collecting rails 34 may be different on opposite sides of the conveyer. In a further modification, not shown, the pinions are secured to the inner ends of the springs and the lifting lugs are secured to the springs at their outer ends.