US1802546A

US1802546A - Distributing system for objects

Info

Publication number: US1802546A
Application number: US357728A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Albertoli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-04-24
Filing date: 1929-04-24
Publication date: 1931-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1948-04-28

Description

April 28, 1931- J. E. ALBERTOLI DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM FOR OBJECTS Filed April 24. 1929 //V JW/YETflZ-BEETOL/ m X 601M 3 H/S ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1931 JOHN E. ALBERTOLI, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM FOR OBJECTS Application filed April. 24,

This invention relates to conveyors for objects, and particularly to conveyors for distributing cans.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a distributing system for the eificient and continuous feeding of objects to a plurality of chutes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of conveying mechanism in which means are provided for preventing jamming of objects over the mouths of the chutes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means, in a conveying mechanism of the character described, for controlling the passage of objects onto the conveyor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved counters for the objects, and positioned adjacent the chutes.

My invention possesses other objects and valuable features, some of which will be set forth in the following description of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings forming part of the specification. It

is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said description and drawings, as I may adopt varying forms of my invention within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a distributing system embodying this invention. Portions of the structure are omitted to shorten the view; and a portion of the view is shown in section to disclose clearly the construction.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the counter, the direction of the view being indicated by arrow 2 in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a counter disk, the direction of the view being indicated by arrow 3 in Fig. 1.

In terms of broad inclusion, the distributing system of this invention, when used for the distribution of cans, comprises a plurality of upright can chutes conveniently arranged adjacent the workers stations and opening at their upper ends into a can trackway, preferably forming a closed path for :0 the travel of cans, the function of which is to supply the chutes with cans as fast as they 1929. Serial No. 357,728.

are removed from the bottoms of the chutes by the workers. Means are provided for moving a succession of cans along the trackway; and means are also rovided to prevent jamming of the cans ad acent the openings into the can chute. Control means are positioned adjacent a feed chute from which cans pass onto the can trackway, to prevent passage of the cans onto the trackway if it is crowded with cans or if there is not sufiicient space between cans on the trackway.

Each can chute is provided with means to retainthe cans therein, until the bottom can is extracted by the worker, whereupon the column of cans in each can chute moves downwardly one step and a fresh can enters at the top of the chute. Also, a counter is preferably positioned adjacent each chute, in order that the number of cans removed from the chute may be indicated. It is thus seen that the chutes are always full of cans and a can is always available at the bottom for the worker.

In terms of greater detail, the distributing system of this invention comprises a plurality of vertically disposed and upwardly extending can chutes 2 formed by bars 3 and 4 arranged to provide a passage for a single file or succession of cans 6. The bottom of each can chute preferably leads to a workers station where the cans are filled by the worker, all in a manner common to canneries. Means are provided for resiliently retaining cans in the chute, comprising an arm 7 held by the spring 8 against the side of the chute and mounted on the rod 9 journaled for pivotal movement on the bracket 11, extending from the chute. Integral with the arm 7 is a finger 12 extending transversely part way across the bottom of the chute. The arm 7 and finger 12 therefore act as a latch to control the movement of the column of cans, and to permit removal of the cans one at a time.

It is often desirable to keep track of the number of-cans removed from each chute, therefore it is preferred to employ a counter mechanism in combination with the chutes. Adjacent the bottom of each chute is positioned a frame comprising a pair of spaced l a large gear 28 fixed for rotation with the plates 13, and on which are journaled a plurality of shafts 14, 15 and 16. Upon. the shaft 14 are fixed a hub 17 and a large gear 18, in mesh with a smaller gear 19 mounted for rotation with the ad'acent shaft 15. A dial 21 is journaled on t e hub 17 and frictionally engages its mounting so that it may turn therewith when rotated The dial may be set by hand by merely turning it; and to facilitate this, lugs 22 are provided on the surface of the dial. Shaft 15 also carries a similarly mounted dial 23 anda large gear 24, in mesh with the smaller gear 26 mounted on the shaft 16. The latter shaft carries a dial 27 mounted similarly to the dial 21; and

shaft meshes .with the small gear 29 keyed to the shaft 31 journaled on the frame 13. Shaft 31 is slidably mounted to permit disengagement of gears 29 and 28, the spring 32 normally holding these gears in engagement.-

A star wheel 33, positioned so that only one' point at a time projects into the chute, is mounted for rotation with the shaft 31. It is thus seen that upon movement of the bottom can from the chute, the cans will pass downwardly, thereby movingthe star wheel 33 to turn the lower dial 27 one scale graduation. The gear ratios and the scales on the counter dials are such that upon one complete revolution of a dial having a larger scale than that of the adjacent dial, the adjacent dial moves just one graduation, according to Well known practice. Pointers 34, fixed to the counter frame and projecting over the dials, are provided for taking readings. lVhen it is desired to set the dials at zero position, this may be conveniently done by merely turning the dials about their shafts until the zero position of each dial registers with each of the fixed pointers 34.

- At their upper ends, the can chutes 2 open into the lower reach 35 of a can trackway, mounted on any suitable framework. The reach is open at the top and comprises the bottom 36 and sides 37 so spaced as to permit a succession of cans to roll therealong. Spaced from lower reach 35 is a similarly constructed upper reach 38 onto which cans are fed or passed, and which is supported on the lower reach by means of uprights 39. Movement is imparted to the cans along the trackway by an endless belt 41 passing over the pulleys 42 and 43 mounted between the upper and lower reaches and adjacent their ends. One of the pulleys is driven by any suitable prime mover to impart movement to the belt. The upper reach of the belt travels on the bottom of the upper reach 38 of the trackway, while the lower reach of the belt is spaced from the bottom of the lower reach 35 so'that the cans are carried by the belt on the upper reach and rolled along by the belt on the lower reach.

Means, connecting the trackway reaches,

are provided to form a closed path for the travel of cans. Substantially semi-circular plates 44 are secured to the sides of the trackway and project beyond pulleys 42 and 43 to form side guides for the cans. Flexible straps 46, passing around pulleys 42 and 43, are secured adjacent the ends of the lower reach 35 and are resiliently held against the cans passing over the pulleys by springs 47 secured to supports 48 mounted on the upper reach. A continuous trackway is thus provided for the travel of cans; so that if the chutes opening from the lower reach are all filled with cans, cans-0n the lower reach may be moved onto the upper reach and again moved to the lower reach, which operation may be continued until the chutes are capable of receiving cans.

The length of each chute is such that the upper surface of the top can of the column of cans in the chute lies substantially even with the bottom of the lower reach of the trackway when the chute is filled. This permits the cans to pass over the chutes without jamming, as they are moved along the trackway until a partially filled or empty chute is reached. In order to prevent jamming of cans adjacent the chute openings if the chutes are not completely filled, rollers 51 are journaled adjacent the far edge of each chute opening so that a can will either fall into the chute or strike the roller and be carried thereover by the moving belt 41. which, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1, is moved in a counter-clockwise direction.

Means are provided for passing or feeding cans onto the trackway; and means are also provided for controlling the passage of cans so as to prevent their deposit onto the trackway if it is crowded with cans. Mounted above the upper reach of the trackway by supports 52 is a feed chute 53 sloping downwardly in the direction of movement of belt 41, and having the bottom 54 and sides 55. The lower end of the chute is provided with an aperture 56 through which cans may discharge onto the belt 41 which moves them along the trackway; and in order to prevent cans from rolling along cans that may be on the trackway ahead of the chute, rim 57 is provided at the end of the chute. A slot 58 is formed in the bottom of chute 53: and projecting through the slot and thereby interposed in the chute, is a star wheel 59 journaled in the brack t 61 on the bottom of the chute. When the upper reach of the trackway is crowded with cans that are moved thereon from the lower reach when chutes 2 are unable to receive all the cans moved thereover, a point of the star wheel is adapted to engage roller 62 journaled on the arm 63 pivoted on the bracket 64, secured to the upper reach of the trackway. The cans passing beneath the roller hold it in engagement with the star wheel to prevent rotation thereof and thereby hold cans in feed chute 53. When there is sufficient space between cans on the upper reach of the trackway to permit lowcring of arm-63 and thereby allow rotation of the star wheel, cans will then pass onto the trackway from the feed chute 53.

It is preferred to provide an arrangement of this character for the lower reach of the trackway; therefore the arm 63 is pivotally connected, by link 66, with a similarly mounted arm 67 on which is journaled roller 68 adapted to rest on the cans in the lower reach of the trackway. The belt 41 is sufliciently narrow to allow the cans to project beyond its side edges and thereby permit roller 68 to ride thereon. If the cans in the lower reach of the trackway are all adjacent each other without spaces therebetween, arm 67 is held up by the cans, thus causing roller 62 on arm 63 to engage the star wheel, thereby preventing discharge of cans onto the trackway. By the use of the described means for controlling passage of the cans onto the trackway, it is seen that if either of the trackway reaches are crowded or filled to capacity,

cans are held in the chute 53.

used for other purposes.

the cans therealong and The conveying mechanism of this invention is especially adapted for rolling or moving cans of small size, due to the fact that cans of this character are stronger than cans of larger size and are therefor not so very apt to become dented by the rolling action.

Although the conveying mechanism is described in combination with chutes leading to workers stations, it may be conveniently For instance, the mechanism may be used as a main conveying means, the chutes extending therefrom being designed to lead to other branch conveyors.

I claim:

1. A can distributing system comprising a can trackway having reaches connected to form a closed path for the travel of cans, a can chute opening from the trackway, and an endless belt for carrying cans'along one of said reaches and for rolling the cans along another of said reaches.

2. A can distributing system comprising a can trackway having reaches connected to form a closed path for the travel of cans, a can chute opening from the trackway, and an endless belt for movin the cans along said trackwa the bottom 0 one of cans therealong.

3. A can distributing system comprising a can trackway having upper and lower reaches connected to form a closed path for the travel of cans, a can chute opening from the trackway, and an endless belt for moving the cans along said trackway, said belt resting on the bottom of the upper reach to carry ing spaced from the bottom of the lower reach to roll the cans therealong.

said reaches to roll the a can trackway said belt being spaced from p 4. A can distributing system comprising a can trackway having upper and lower reaches connected to form a closed path for the travel of cans, a can chute opening from the lower reach of said trackway, and an endless belt for moving the cans along said trackway, said belt resting on the bottom of the upper reach to carry the cans therealong and being spaced from the bottom of the lower reach to roll the cans therealong.

5. A can distributing system comprising having upper and lower reaches connected to form a closed path for the travel of cans, a can chute opening from the lower reach of said trackway, means for feeding cans onto the upper reach of said trackway, and an endless belt for moving the cans along said trackway, said belt resting on the bottom of the upper reach and being spaced from the bottom of the lower reach.

6. A can distributing system comprising a can trackway having upper and lower reaches connected to form a closed path for the travel of cans, a can chute opening from the lower reach of said trackway, means for feeding cans onto the upper reach of said trackway, means for controllin the feeding of cans thereon, and an endless ielt for moving the cans along said trackway, said belt resting on the bottom of the upper reach and being spaced from the bottom of the lower reach.

7. A distributing system for objects comprising a trackway, a chute for passing objects onto the trackway and under which the objects may pass along said trackway, a star wheel interposed in said chute, and movably mounted means engageable with said star wheel and with the objects passing under said chute to prevent passage of objects onto the trackway when it is crowded.

8. A distributing system for objects comprising a trackway forming a closed path for the travel of the objects, a chute opening from said trackway, a chute for passing objects onto the trackway and under which the objects may pass along said trackway, a star wheel interposed in said chute, and movably mounted means engageable with said star wheel and with the objects passing under said chute to prevent passage of objects onto the trackway when it is crowded.

9. A distributing system for objects comprising a trackwayforming a closed path for the travel of the objects, a chute opening from the trackway, means for moving the objects along said' trackway, and a roller mounted adjacent an edge of the chute to preyent jamming of objects at the chute openmg.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set in hand.

y JOHN E. ALBERTOLI.