GB841400A - Improvements in or relating to conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

841,400. Endless-chain conveyers. PFAFF A.G., G. M. Jan. 22, 1958 [Jan. 22, 1957], No. 2110/58. Class 78 (1). In a conveyer 5 for use as an assembly line of the kind which travels in a horizontal plane past stations A1 to D8 and is provided with a series of attachments 8 to each of which a load container 3 may be detachably connected, the containers move over a track 1 which is inclined downwardly with respect to the plane in which the chain travels and which is more than twice as wide as the containers so that the latter, when released from the attachment, slide by gravity to a position out of the path of the containers still attached to the chain. Each attachment 8, Figs. 3 and 4, consists of a frame 9 which is secured to the chain 5 and has a pivoted cover 11. Flanged rollers 12 on each frame run between guide rails 14, 15. The lower edge of the frame is extended to form a lip, which with the depending edge 16 of the cover, forms an aperture 18. This aperture receives a rod-shaped hook 29 mounted on each container and retains it until the cover is raised by the engagement of its depending portion 19 with one of a series of plungers 26 which is in the raised position. Each plunger is actuated by a solenoid 27 which is energized only when switches 36, 37, Fig. 2, provided at each station are actuated simultaneously by keys, e.g. 33, 34, Fig. 5, on a container. The distances of the switches 36 from the conveyer vary with the stations in which they are mounted, e.g. in the series of stations D they are all at a distance which ensures actuation by the projected key 33, Fig. 5, which is the key allotted to the stations D. The switches 37 in the series of stations D1 ... D8 are at different distances from the conveyer corresponding to the distances of the eight keys 34. In Fig. 5, the fifth key is shown projected and the container will be detached at station D5. The switches 36, 37 of each station are connected electrically to each other and to the corresponding solenoid 27. A safety switch 40 at each station is actuated by the weight of a container and since it is connected electrically to the corresponding switches 36, 37, a container cannot be released from the attachment 8 if the station is occupied. The re-engagement of a container with an attachment is facilitated by the provision of hinged flaps 53 which are spring-urged to inclined position. Each flap holds a container in position for the engagement of the hook 29 with the aperture 18. Since the hook is not parallel to the container, as it enters the aperture, the container will be drawn towards the conveyer to clear the following flaps and to be aligned with the other containers by contacting the ledge 56. A panel (not shown) is provided with signals to indicate which stations are free and which are occupied. This panel also contains holding keys which when actuated put the switches 36, 37 out of action.