GB895181A - Improvements in or relating to handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

895,181. Rotary conveyers. ETABLISSEMENTS MAURICE HELIOT. July 20, 1960 [Sept. 10, 1959 (2)], No. 25237/60. Class 78 (1). In Fig. 10, each article 41, e.g. underwear, is carried by a respective arm 2, which travels in a circular path through a series of work stations A, B, I, II, C, and, during a cycle, derives its movement in turn from uniformly-rotating concentric rail 4 (Fig. 11) and from intermittently-rotating concentric rail 14. Uniform drive (Figs. 5, 11) from rail 4.-The coupling between rotating rail 4 and arm 2 is made by carriage 3, the carriage being secured to said arm 2 and pivotally carrying at 24 the driver 9. Driver 9 is shown in the upper non-coupling position, being influenced upwards by the engagement of roller 10 (mounted on driver 9) with stationary cam 25, but falls to its lower coupling position at any point of the path where cam 25 is absent to allow finger 11 to engage the driving rail 4 and thus rotate arm 2 and the article 41 carried thereon. Intermittent drive from rail (Figs. 9, 11 ).- The coupling between rotating rail 14 and arm 2 is made by plate 15 pivotally carried at 16 by the said rail 14. Plate 15 assumes either a lower non-coupling position depressed thereto by engagement of cam 20 with roller 19 or an upper coupling position (Fig. 9) where, under the influence of spring 17, pin 21 engages in the slot shown in carriage 3 so that rail 21 drives carriage 3 (and arm 2) with an intermittent motion. Loading position A (Figs. 10, 5).-Each carriage 3 has an extension 13, the purpose of which is to engage roller 10 of the next-carriageon-the-right and thus to raise and disengage its finger 11 from rail 4. Thus at loading position A, the first carriage 3 (or arm 2) is held by a stop engaging the cam 12 shown, whilst subsequent carriages are held by the disengaging movement of extensions 13 upon rollers 10 of carriages coming up from the right. This permits the first carriage to be pushed leftwards manually and singly, the next carriage taking its place. Operation (Fig. 10).-Each article travels independently on its arm 2 from loading station A. Thus it is loaded on to a stationary arm 2 at A and is pushed leftwards to disengage it from the stop thereat and at the same time to engage finger 10 with rail 4 and thus to advance the arm to waiting station B. At B the arm is checked by a stop and disengaged from rail 4. It is now controlled by a time switch positioned at position I, which switch releases the stop and couples the arm to rail 14 by means of a plate 15, and the arm then proceeds intermittently to positions I and II and D. At D, a cam operates to release the arm from rail 14 and to engage it with rail 4, and thus complete the cycle by advancing the arm driven by rail 4 through unloading station C to loading station A. Article holder (Figs. 10, 11 ). Article 41 is carried at the end of arm 2, and pivots relatively thereto at 43, and the angular position thereof is determined by the position of follower 51 which is displaced by cam 52 against spring 49. By this means the article is positioned suitable for insertion in the presses 53, 54 and 55, 56 at stations I and II as shown in Fig. 10.