US1072175A - Deflector for gravity-conveyers. - Google Patents

Description

M. C. SCHWAB. DEPLBGTOR PoR GRAVITY ooNvEYBRs.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1009.

1,072,175. Patented sept.z,1913.

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M. C. SCHWAB.

DEI'LEGTOR FOR GRAVITY GONVEYBRSA APPLICATION FILED JULY 28,1909. 1,072,1 75. Patented sept. 2, 1913.

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MARTIN C. SCHWAB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GRAVITY CONVEYOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DEFLECTOR FOR GRAVITY-CONVEYERS.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, MARTIN C. SCHWAB, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful In'iprovement in Detlectors for Gravity- Conveyers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gravity conveyers, and more particularly to gravity conveyers of the spiral type.

One object of my invention is to provide a conveyer with an inlet opening and an outlet opening at each floor, and arranged to perniit both of these openings to be 1n use at the same time.

A further object is the provision of a switching device for preventing interfer ence between the simultaneous operation of the inlet and outlet openings at any one l'loor.

Other objects will appear hereinafter, the novel combinations of elements being set forth in the claim hereunto annexed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in front elevation a well known type of gravity conveyer embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View of Fig. 1 taken approximately on the line La.

Similar characters of reference denote similar parts in both figures.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a spiral gravity conveyer comprising an outer shell or casing 11 and an inner central core 13, between which is arranged a spiral conveying surface or blade 12. The conveyer may be arranged to connect all of the floors of a building so that articles may be placed into the conveyer at any particular floor and be delivered automatically at any one ot' the floors below. The d 'awing shows but two floors 20 and 30, the novel features of my invention being shown near the floor 20.

21 designates an outlet opening which may be spirally arranged, and the lower edge of which is preferably made flush with the surface of the conveyor' blade 12. This opening may be of any suitable dimensions, and there may be one at each floor when the eonveyer extends through a plurality of floors or landings. Arranged to fully cover the outlet opening 21 and corresponding in Shape thereto, is a door 14, the ends of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 28, 1909.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

serial No. 510,059.

which are provided with bearings so that the door may be mounted to slide up and down on the vertical fixed rods 17, 17. A handle 15 is secured to the door for convenience in lifting or lowering the saine, and a hook 1G pivoted to the conveyor casing 11 is arranged to hold the door in its open posi tion by engaging a pin 16 thereon. If desired, the door may be arranged to swing open, in which case suitable fastening means may be provided to retain the door in open or closed position. In some cases it may be desirable to provide a chute for the outlet opening 21 so that articles being discharged from this opening could be conveyed to any desired place. This chute, designated by 27, is shown in Fig. 2 in broken lilies, the same being omitted from Fig. 1 in order to avoid confusion.

22 designates an inlet opening arranged farther around on the circumference of the conveyor, and this opening, like the discharge opening 21, is preferably made spiral in form, although the same could be of other shape, such as square or rectangular. The lower edge of the inlet opening 22 is preferably arranged somewhat above the spiral blade 12, although other arrangements of this opening with respect to the spiral may be used if so desired. A door 23 is hinged at 2li to the conveyor casing and covers the opening 22 when in closed position. A button 2G is adapted to hold the door closed. This door 23 may be arranged to slide like the door lll, suitable means being provided to hold it in open or closed position. A chute (not shown) may be provided for the opening 22 if desired, to facilitate the directing of articles into the conveyer.

Between the openings 21 and 22 is a switching device or dellector 25 which is hinged to the inside of the conveyor casing 11 by means of hinges 2S. This dellector is preferably hinged as close to the outlet opening 21 as possible and is curved in form, its radius of curvature being substantially the same as that of the conveyer casing, so that when it is not in use it may be swung about its hinges close up against the inner surface of t-he eonveyer casing, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The dellector 25 is preferably the same height as the outlet opening 21, and it should be of sufficient length to extend from the casing 11 to the central core 13 when in operative position as shown. Y A lever 19 is secured to the deflector 25 and extends outwardly through a slot 18 in the convey-er casing, said lever being for the purpose of manually swinging the deflector 25 into or out of operative position.

36 designates a catch which is pivoted to the outside of the conveyer casing and is adapted to lock the deflector in operative position by engaging the lever 19. A stop 29 may be arranged on the inner central core 13 to limit the movement of the deiiector when the latter is moved into operative position.

In order to operate the conveyer so that articles from a floor above may be discharged at the outlet opening 21 at the same time that other articles are being inserted into the conveyer opening 22 for delivery at a floor below, the doors 14 and 23 are rst opened and the deflector 25 is moved by means of the lever 19 into operative position as shown on the drawing, and locked in this position by means of the catch 36. It is evident that articles descending from a floor above the opening 21 will be thrown by centrifugal force out of the conveyer at the opening` 2l, the deflector acting as a switch or barrier to prevent articles from continuing on down the spiral conveying surface. While articles are thus being discharged at the outlet 21, other articles may be inserted into the conveyer through the inlet opening 22. 'Ihence they will descend by gravity to an outlet opening in the conveyer at some floor lower down, or they may continue on down to the lowermost or basement landing. Y Vhile the illustration shows my invention applied to a conveyer only at one iioor, it is to be understood that all of the floors of a building intermediate the top floor and the basement may be likewise provided with both an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and with switching means located between each pair of openings as above described.

VIt is readily seen that my invention greatly increases the capacity and usefulness of any conveyer to which it may be applied. Articles such as packages or bundles may be inserted at any iioor for delivery at any iioor below, while at the same time other articles may be placed in the conveyer at the latter floor for delivery at some other ioor lower down.

Obviously various changes in the construction and arrangement of parts herein disclosed may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

`What I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

In a gravity conveyer, the combination with a. member having a conveying surface, of a casing therefor provided with a discharge opening, a door for s ald opening, a deflector plate hinged within the casing, means for moving said plate into and out of operative position, and means for locking it in operative position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speeification'in the presence of `two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN C. SCHWAB. lVitnesses z E. V. STACK,

C. I). SCHROEDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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