GB947239A - Improvements in or relating to pneumatic conveying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

947,239. Pneumatic conveyers; reciprocating conveyers. E. SALMONA. Nov. 8, 1961 [Dec. 10, 1960], No. 40054/61. Heading B8A. In a pneumatic conveyer system for transferring articles such as knitted stockings 25, Figs. la, 1b, 1c from a plurality of machines 1 to multiple sorting receptacles 37, the valves 5 of collecting funnels 3 at each machine 1 are opened sequentially in a time cycle which is less than the minimum interval between deliveries from a machine 1 so that only a single article or stocking is received at each operation. The articles pass to a chamber 12 having a discharge flap 13 which is automatically opened by an electric motor 23 under the control of a photo-electric detector 14 operable when the article reaches the required position. The detector 14 further controls a valve 16 to shut off the suction from the conveyer fan 17 and to operate a blower 20 coupled by nozzles 18 for blowing the articles on to an inspection table 26. A further photo-electric detector 10 may be provided in the conveyer line 7 and operates valves 8, 9 to open the line to atmosphere and throttle the flow so that the speed of the article is reduced before entering the discharge chamber 12. After removal by hand from the table 26 and inspection on a tapered pipe 27 the stockings are drawn into a second conveyer line 7<SP>1</SP> having a similar chamber 12<SP>1</SP> and discharge flap 13<SP>1</SP> from which the stockings fall on to a tiltable shelf 29, which is movable by a carriage 30 to a selected receptacle 37. Stops 34 operated in a timed sequence operate to tilt the shelf 29 so that the stockings 25 fall into the selected receptacle 37 according to size. The device controlling the sequential opening of the valves 5 and the stops 34 comprises multiple cams (Figs. 2a, 2b, not shown) driven by a common shaft, the cams controlling the stops 34 being set to operate after a delay sufficient for the time taken at the inspection stage. The cams may also operate signal lamps 39, 42 and counting devices 40 in the respective circuits for each machine 1. Push buttons 42 may also be incorporated on the table 26 and are operated to override the cam operated switches if a particular article requires rerouting after inspection.