IL47811A - Coding device for conveying plant - Google Patents

Description

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Coding device for conveying plant BtJRO PATBSfi S Such code setting apparatus is needed for fairly large conveying systems wherein, for example, empty trucks are kept in readiness on call in a store. In order to ensure that a station calling for an empty truck actually receives the truck,' and that the truck is not intercepted, by an intermediate station also requiring an empty truck, using such code setting apparatus, the destination code is set at the exit, from the store. A call storage device is connected to the code setting apparatus and stores the calling signals of stations and feeds them into the code setting apparatus one after another. The code setting apparatus may also be used to pass on other information or instructions to the truck.

Code setting apparatus of the kind described is further particularly advantageous in conveying systems with automatically driven trucks. In such systems, the trucks represent a very great cost factor and therefore have to be stored and distributed in a particularly economical manner. With the code setting apparatus described above, the number of unused trucks travelling unladen can be kept extremely small.

Code setting apparatus of the kind described above, suitable for such conveying systems, is disclosed in German Auslegeschrift 1 230 358. In this code setting apparatus, pegs serve as the stops, and have to be inserted in holes which form individual code setting positions.

In order to disengage the ^tops and the code elements, the entire code setting apparatus is pivoted out of position.

This code setting apparatus is not only complicated in construe L tion but is partucularly troublesome to maintain and is completely unsuitable for automatic operation of the conveying system.

An object of the present invention is to provide a code setting apparatus of the kind described, which, while permitting rapid and accurate setting up of the code, is substantially simpler in its technical construction and permits automatic- operation.

Thus-, according to the invention there is provided code setting apparatus for use in a conveying system in which a conveying member moves along a predetermined path, said conveying member having a code element movable longitudinally of the direction of movement of the conveying member into predetermined positions corresponding to a required code, said code setting apparatus comprising a plurality of stops at predetermined positions, each stop being individually extendible into the path of a code element whereby to engage such code element and move it to a predetermined /code position with respect to its conveying membe during movement of such member along its path, said code setting apparatus further comprising means for extending the respective stop corresponding to a. particular code before movement of a conveying member into the region of the apparatus, means for disengaging the stop and code element once the code has been set, and means for retracting the stop to a predetermined reference position.

In the code setting apparatus according to the invention, the stops may be quickly and easily extended and retracted again, thus making automatic operation possible. Appropriately, in a conveying system incorporating the code setting apparatus, the ode element is '.set to' a predetermined reference position before the conveying-member approaches the code setting apparatus.

Advantageously, the code setting apparatus is provided with means for halting movement of a conveying member once the predetermined code has been set thereon.

As the halting means, a buffer for the conveying member, or a cut out which shuts off the drive of the conveying member may be used. After the conveying member has stopped, it may either return in the opposite direction,' the stops being retracted at a later time, or the conveying member may carry on in its original direction after the stops have been pulled out. A. particularly advantageous feature of this construction is that there is a fairly wide range of possible times for retracting the stops, which means that control of the retraction can be easily effected.

Advantageously, the code setting apparatus includes means for displacing a conveying member from its predetermined path to another predetermined path for further movement whereby to disengage said stop and code element. The displacement could be by means of points switching a conveying member from one track to another. Such an arrangement provides another technical simplification.

When a laterally movable track piece serving as a switch point is used, no separate halting means is needed, as the conveying member arriving has to be brought to a standstill in any case before being laterally displaced.

Such an arrangement also has the advantage that, as the conveying member is in any case always moved out of the area of engagement of the stops with the code elements, these stops can therefore be retracted again at any convenient time afterwards.

Advantageously, the apparatus includes a sensor for determining the position of a conveying member relative ' to the apparatus ..whereby to actuate the means for disengaging the stop and code element once the code has been set.

The sensor may thus scan a fixed marker on the. conveying mamber; for example, the sensor may comprise a reed relay adapted to sense a nagnet fixed on a conveying member.

An advantageous feature of this construction is the, fact that it does not affect the conveying member in any way and does not require any constructional alterations such as, for example, the provision of a stopping buffer for the conveying member.

Advantageously, the stops comprise the movable cores of electromagnets. Using magnets, the stops can be moved particularly easily. Moreover, this makes control of the stops easier since this can then be electronic for example. This also makes it, easier to couple the code setting apparatus to, for example, an electronic call storage system.

The invention also provides a conveying system including code setting apparatus as described above, and at least one conveying member arranged for movement along a predetermined path, said conveying member being ■ provided with at least one code element movable longitudina of the path of movement of the conveying member into predetermined positions corresponding to a required code. An embodiment of the invention by way of example will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a view in persepctive of code setting apparatus for a conveying member travelling past it on a track, without stopping.

Fig. 2 is a section through code setting apparatus mounted beside a switch point; Fig. 3 is a side view of the conveying member running on a rail.

In the embodiment shown, the code setting apparatus serves to set destination codes for a conveying., system with conveying, members constructed as automatically driven ί containers running on rails. The code setting apparatus may, however, also be used in other conveying systems in which there are used, as conveying members, containers which are transported, for example by a conveyor belt or the like.

A container 10 shown, can be sealed on its upper side with a lid 12 and has on its underside wheels 13 which are mounted with axles 14 in supports 15 fastened to . the underside of the container. With its wheels 13, the container runs on a rail 16, which embraces the wheels on. its upper side in hollow sectioned manner, in order to ensure safe guiding o'f the container under all circumstances. The drive mechanism of the container is not shown. It may consist, for example, of a friction wheel mounted on the underside of the container and driven by an electric motor, while transmission of energy to the container is effected by sliding contact with current-conducting rails laid on the rail 16.

As can be seen Irom Fig. 3, the container is provided, in a setting area on a side wall, with code element guides 17a, 17b and 17c extending in the direction of the track, in which code elements 18a,' 18b and 18c respectively, being permanent magnets, are movably mounted. The movable code elements are each adjustable into ten predetermined positions from 0 to 9, while in each of these positions holding means is provided to prevent accidental movement of the code element by vibrations during movement of the conveying., member.

Using the three guides.17a, 17b and 17c shown and the associated code elements 18a, 18b, 18c, a three-positioned destination code between 000 and 999 can be set up which can be read magnetically, for. example using a reed relay.

Setting of the code elements may also be carried out manually, for example. s In Figs.1 and 2, a remote-controlled code setting apparatus according to the invention is mounted beside the rail 16, on that side of the container 10 which is provided with the setting area. This code setting apparatus may, for example, be provided at the .exit from a container store where empty containers are taken after being called into action. For this purpose, when a destination station requiring an empty conainer has called, the containers have to be given the destination code, i. e. the code number, of this station, so that the empty container thus coded travels along the rail system to the calling station where it is discharged from the rail system once the code on the setting area of the container has been recognised. ' 4_%' . ..

■ The code setting apparatus may be provided with a store, for example an electronic store, connected thereto, which stores several, calls from different receiving stations and passes the corresponding destination codes, one after another, to the code setting apparatus which then codes any empty returning containers correspondingly.

The code setting apparatus is mounted fixedly on a bench 20 beside the rail 16 and comprises, at each of the setting positions 1 to 9, a remote-controlled device 19 which moves a respective stop 22 into the path of movement of the code elements 18a, 18b, 18c. As the device 19, . an electro magnet 21 is used in each case, the stop being a coaxially mounted core which can be moved forward by a certain length when the magnet is actuated. In Fig. 2, the central magnet is shown with its core moved forward, i. e. in the actuated position, while the magnets located above and below it are in the resting position, with their cores withdrawn.

As can be seen from Pig. 1, the magnets 12 are arranged in a group of 9 in three super-imposed rows 21a, 21b, 21c. These rows of magnets, as can be seen from Fig. 2, are i alignment with the guides 17a, 17b, 17c of the container 10. The magnets are arranged at regular spacings in rows, these spacings corresponding to the spacings of the individual positions 1 to 9 of the code-elements 18a, 18b, 18c respectively; this is shown more clearly in Figs.1 and 3 for the code setting apparatus . and the container.

No stop is required for the code element position 0, since the container /always enters the code setting apparatu with the code elements 18a, 18b and 18c in the 0 position.

In order to set all the elements 18a 18b D/;?:.I JL8c to the reference position 0, the container may, for example, before reaching the code setting apparatus be moved in. an opposite direction to the arrows in Fig. 1 or Fig. 3, past buffers (not shown in the figures) arranged laterally beside the rail 16. By means of such buffers the movable code elements in guides 17a, 17b and 17c are moved to the end position, i. e. position 0. ' The lateral spacing of the code setting apparatus from the rail 16 guiding the container 10 is such that, when the stops 22 are withdrawn, the container 10 can run past the code setting apparatus without being effected in any way. If, however, one of the stops 22 is pushed forward, it projects into the path of movement of the appropriate code element 18 and holds it in place as the container 10 goes past with the result that this element is moved in its guide. This engagement position with a stop 22 extended is shown for the central stop in Fig. 2. It can be seen that the stop 22 extended does not come into contact with the guide 17b but only obstructs the code element 18b.

Fig. 1 shows the container 10, travelling in the direction of the arrow, shortly before reaching the code setting apparatus. On the code setting apparatus, the stop for marker position 5 in row 21a, the stop for marker position 8 in row 21b and the stop for marker position 1 in row 21c are extended, the corresponding magnets having been actuated and the cores being in the forward position. When the container 10 moves on, the code elements 18a, 18b and 18c respectively, having previously been set in the zero position by an apparatus (not shown) are acted on by the stops 22 located in the forward position. The code elements are pushed along their guides until the element 18a comes to rest in position 5, element 18b in position 8 and element 18c in position 1. The stops 22 are located in a position which is offset relative to the required positions of the elements with respect to the container 10, by half the length of the elements 18a, 18b 18c and by half the diameter of the stops 22.

At this moment, the setting procedure is interrupted by an accuretely timed controlled simultaneous withdrawal of all the stops 22.

Thus, in this case, devices 19 serve simultaneously as devices for. disengaging the stops from the code elements.

For determining this precise moment, when the code elements have reached their predetermined positions, a scaning system is used. This consists of a fixed marker 23, for example a permanent magnet, fixedly mounted on the container 10, and a sensor 24, for example a reed relay, ficedly mounted on the code setting apparatus. The sensor 24 is connected to the electronic control device of the code setting apparatus and when activated by the fixed marker 23 effects immediate deactivation of electro magnets 21. In this way, all the stops 22 are withdrawn at that moment and the container 10 can travel on with the desired setting of its permanent magnets which act as code elements.

The code setting apparatus may also include a device which brings the containers 10 to a:halt beside the stops . 22 when' they have moved code elements 18a, 18b, 18c into the desired positions. For this, stop buffers, for example, or the above mentioned scanning system may be used. The container may then either travel back from the halted position or it may carry on in its previous direction after all the stops 22 have been withdrawn.

In Fig. 2, the code setting apparatus, which in other respects corresponds to that in Fig..1, is fixedly mounted beside a switch point 25. The cock- ■■ seating apparatus is so adjusted beside the switch point that:, when the container 10 is stationary at the switch point, the stops 22 which are operating have moved the code elements into the associated positions on the container. By means of the lateral movement, the container 10 is moved out of engagement, with the stops 22 until the portion of rail 26 is located in the right-hand position shown with a broken line in Fig. 2. The switch point 25 thus acts as a device fo disengaging the stops and the code elements, and the stops 22 may be retracted at a later time which may, for example, be signalled after completion of the displacement procedure by the switch point 25. However, the stops must be returned to their positions before being set to another code.

If the container 10 does not always stop with sufficient accuracy in the same place at the switch point 25, a stopping buffer (not shown) may be provided against which the container 10 comes to rest when approaching the switch point. In this way, a constant. exactly ! reproducible stopping point for the container 10 at the switch point is provided, while the code setting apparatus can be accurately adjusted relative thereto, wiih the result that the container can always be given an exact and unerring destination setting. /

Claims (11)

What we claim is:-..

1. Code setting apparatus for use in a conveying system in which a- conveying member moves along a predetermined pathj said conveying member having a code element movable longitudinally of the direction of movement of the conveying member into predetermined positions corresponding to a required code, said code setting apparatus comprising a plurality of stops at predetermined positions, each stop being individually extendible into the path of a code element whereby to engage such code element and move it to a predetermined code position with respect to its conveying member during movement of such member along its path, said code setting apparatus further comprising means for extending the respective stop corresponding to a particular code before movement of a conveying member into the region of the apparatus, means for disengaging the stop and code element once the code has been set, and means for retracting the stop to a predetermined reference position.

2. Code setting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, / including means for halting movement of a conveying member once the predetermined code has been set thereon.

3. Code setting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including means for displacing a conveying member from its predetermined path to another predetermined path for further movement whereby to disengage said stop and code element.

4. Code setting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, . wherein the means for disengaging the stop and code element effects retraction of the stop.

5. Code setting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including, .a. -sensor for determining the position of a conveying member relative to the apparatus whereby to actuate the means for disengaging the stop- and code element once the code has been set.

6. Code setting apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said sensor comprises a reed relay adapted to sense a magnet fixed on a conveying member.

7. Code setting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the stops comprise the movable cores of electromagnets.

8. Code setting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore ■ described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A conveying system including code setting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, and at least one conveying membe arranged for movement along a predetermined path, said conveying member being provided with at least one code element movable longi udinally of the path of movement of the conveying member into predetermined positions corresponding to a required code.

10. A conveying system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the or each conveying member is provided with three code elements individually movable along separate tracks, and said code setting apparatus is provided with three corresponding rows of stops. ■ ' '

11. A conveying system substnaially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.