GB958027A - Improvements in or relating to conveyor systems - Google Patents

Abstract

958,027. Conveyer systems. FISHER & LUDLOW Ltd. Aug. 18, 1961 [May 21, 1960], No. 18014/60. Heading B7L. In a conveyer system in which wheeled trolleys 25 are advanced over a floor 24 by an overhead chain 20 detachably connected to the trolleys 25 by a spring loaded cable 28 so as to enable any one of the trolleys 25 to be stopped without stopping advancement of the chain 20 or other trolleys 25 there is provided one or more trolley diverting devices 45 mounted in a predetermined location on the floor and having a switch tongue 61 for diverting to one side of the path of advancement 47 of the trolley 25 one or more trolleys 25<SP>1</SP> and each trolley is provided with a pivoted buffer 30 which disconnects the associated trolley 25<SP>1</SP> from the cable 28 to bring to rest such trolley to one side of the trolley path 47 clear of the trolleys 25 which continue to advance along path 47. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7 each trolley is provided with a pivoted buffer 30 which on striking a stop 66 or a bumper 67, on a preceding trolley, pivots to disengage a cam 32 and a catch 33 thus allowing a spring 35 to move a rod 34 downwards to disengage its upper end 36 from holes 37, 38 provided in the arms 39, 40 of a scissors arrangement which arms then open to release a ball 44 provided on the end of the cable 28. Each diverting device 45 is secured in position by rods 49, slidably mounted in tubes 48, engaging sockets 50 provided in the floor 24. Vertically retractable ground engaging wheels 51 mounted on device 45 facilitate movement thereof. The switch tongue 61 may be manually displaced into either of its two positions or, as shown in Fig. 6, by means of a pair of solenoids 68, 69 attached to the tongue by levers 71. A device for preselecting the position of the tongue 61 comprises a forked bracket 72, Figs. 2 and 9, which is supported by the chain 20 and carries axially movable selector pins 74 which co-operate with rollers 75 mounted on members 76 of small switches 77 arranged in banks at intervals along the chain track 21. The switches 77 are in circuit with the solenoids 68, 69 in such a manner that the tongue 61 is normally in a position to divert trolleys 25 along the path 47 but on closure of one of the switches 77 by a pin 74 the tongue 61 is moved to divert trolleys 25<SP>1</SP> to a stop position alongside the device 45. Specification 818,453 is referred to.