US2027266A - Conveyer structure - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7, 1936. H. s. BOGATY "2,027,266

' CONVEYER STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. 3, 1933 3 SheetsSheet l 1936- H. s. BOGATY CONVEYER STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. 5, 1935 3 Shex ets-Sheet 2 fzggri 447 Jim. 7, 1936. H s, B TY 2,027,266

CONVEYER STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. s, 1953 3 Shets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CONVEYER STRUCTURE Original application August 3, 1933, Serial No. 683,529. Divided and this application June 15,

1934, Serial No. 730,837

9 Claims. (Cl. 198-181) This invention relatesto conveyerstructure particularly adaptable for use in an improved apparatus for carrying out an improved process for blending and conditioning tobacco as disclosed in the applicants copending application Serial No. 683,529, filed August 3, 1933, and of which the present application constitutes a division.

The structure forming the subject matter of the present application is particularly adapted for use in conditioning tobacco which has been formed into bundles each containing a predetermined number or quantity of leaves bound together at their stem ends, forming a head from which the leaves extend in more or less loose relation to each other.

In blending tobacco, to provide a mixture containing desirable qualities of two or more different varieties in correct proportions, it is customary to employ a long flat continuously moving endless belt conveyer comprising an upper carrying run and a lower idle return run disposed in vertically spaced relation to each other, the belt passing around suitable drums or pulleys at each of the opposite ends of the two vertically spaced runs of the conveyer.

Substantially one-half of the carrying run of the conveyer, toward one end thereof, is at all times disposed within a conditioning chamber while the remainder of the carrying run of the conveyer is out in the open and extends beyond the receiving end of the conditioning chamber, to provide a loading and/or blending station in the apparatus.

The several varieties of tobacco to be blended are contained in hogsheads or other suitable receptacles disposed along the blending or loading station, adjacent the conveyer. From the different receptacles attendants take predetermined numbers of bundles of the different tobaccos and place them in flat superposed and overlapping relation to eachother on the conveyer belt, as it passes by the sub-stations occupied by the respective attendants.

The loaded portion of the conveyer then passes into the conditioning chamber, wherein the tobacco is subjected to circulating currents of moisture-laden air by which the dry and more or less brittle tobacco leaves are softened and prepared for subsequent processing and from which the mixture is discharged into a hopper or on to another conveyer for transportation to the apparatus by which the next step in the processing of the blended mixture is accomplished.

The capacity of such a blending and conditioning apparatus is objectionably low, due to the necessity for keeping the layer of superposed horizontally disposed and overlapping tobacco leaves relatively thin on the conveyer, in order that the conditioning medium will penetrate to the center of the laminated layer.

Penetration to the center of the layer is at the best greatly retarded, and in thick layers prevented, by the overlapping relation of the super-' posed leaves, the uppermost of which presents a baffle, barrier or shed to downwardly moving 'is to provide a conveyer structure which will lend itself to increasing the capacity of the blending and conditioning apparatus and to the attainment of quick and substantially uniform penetration of the mass of leaves assembled on the conveyer, by the conditioning medium, by making it possible to arrange the leaves in substantially parallel vertical relationto each other for the passing of the conditioning medium through the mass of leaves in a direction lengthwise of the leaves.

The bundles of leaves are preferably disposed on the conveyer with the heads extending downwardly and the leaves extending upwardly therefrom, and the conditioning. medium is passedupwardly through the mass of leaves, in order that the conditioning medium may penetrate all portions ofthe assembled mass substantially simultaneously by passing between the leaves contained in each bundle in its movement lengthwise of the leaves, which is made possible and facilitated by the provision of the especially constructed conveyer forming the subject of the present invention which in its preferred form comprises a continuous series ortraino-f rectangular box-like containers or chambers composed of perforated metal plate or wire mesh fabric stretched on a suitable framework, each container including a substantially flat normally horizontal base and top and relatively fixed back and side walls, While the front of each container is provided with hinged doors by which a predetermined number of bundles of leaves may be 10 moisture-laden air currents and the und'ermost confined in relatively close lateral and more or less loose abutting relation to each other in the container, with the heads of the bundles resting on the horizontal base. a

In order to facilitate loading and unloading of the containers said containers are connected to each other in a manner to permit relative tilting of the containers, first in one direction transversely of the normal longitudinal path of movement of the train for loading purposes, then in an opposite transverse direction for discharging the mass from the interior of the containers.

By increasing the linear foot capacity of the conveyer and by passing the conditioning medi um lengthwise of the leaves through the mass, the length of the conditioning chamber may be proportionately shortened; and by providing the series of containers in a train the conveyer, instead of running in a vertical plane as described above, is permitted to be run in a horizontal plane; and the return run of the conveyer, instead of passing idly through or under the conditioning chamber, passes around and to one side of the conditioning chamber, whereby the return run is utilized for loading and unloading thereby placing the loading or blending station at the one side of the cnditioning chamber instead of its being at and extending a considerable distance beyond the one end of the conditioning chamber as above noted. Thus the total length of the conveyer including the carrying and return runs, is reduced tosubstantially one-half or less than one-half of the total length of the conveyers of the prior art, which constitutes a considerable saving of expense relative to the initial installation and subsequent maintenance.

The construction of the apparatus will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the preferred lay-out embodying the conditioning chamber and the loading and unloading, stations at the one side thereof;

Fig. 2 is a. diagrammatic side elevation of the I apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

' Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 55, Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the rectangular containers of which the conveyer is composed;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the container shown in Fig. 6;

' Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the container shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing one of the containers of Figs. 6, '7 and 8 as being tilted outwardly to discharge the contents of the container and the means for opening the doors of the container;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevation of the container shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of the door-locking mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11;

'Fig. 13 is a plan View of an automatic means for closing the doors of the conveyer baskets; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation taken on the line I4I4, Fig, 13.

' The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive comprises a casing I including a bottom or floor 2, side walls 3 and 4 and a roof 5, which collectively form a chamber 6 through which tobacco is conveyed for conditioning.

Extending completely through the casing I from end to end thereof are inner and outer rail. sections II and I2 of a conveyer-supporting track II), as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The conveyer track I0 also comprises inner and outer rail sections I Ia and IZa which are disposed outside and to one side of the casing I. The outer rail sections I2, PM of the track ID are connected at the opposite ends of the casing I by curved sections I 3 and I4 respectively. The inner rail sections II and Ha of the track I 0 terminate 15 adjacent the opposite ends of the casing I, in line with the pitch circles of sprocket wheels I5 and I6 which are disposed in horizontal planes and rotate about vertically extending axes of drive shafts I! and I8, to which the sprocket wheels I5 and I6 are respectively secured.

Running on and supported by the rails I I, Na and passing around the sprockets I5 and I6 is an endless conveyer chain 2U,'Whi0h, as illustrated in Fig. 7, comprises a series of links 2| having maleand female ends 22 and 23 respectively, which are adapted to be connected to the ends of the adjacent links, to complete the endless chain 20, by vertically extending pintles 24.

Each of the links 2| is provided with a pair of 0 supporting rollers 25 rotatably mounted in the link and adapted to ride on the upper surfaces of the rails II, Ila, and on horizontal flanges IM and I 6a of the sprockets I5 and I6 respectively, which are disposed in the same horizontal plane 35 as the rails II, Ila of the track I0, whereby the chain 2|] will travel at all times in a horizontal plane as it passes along the rails II, Na and around the sprockets I5 and I5.

Each of the links 2I carries one of the rectangular containers into which the tobacco is placed for conditioning. Each container comprises a rigid skeleton frame 3| including a base 32, a top 33, a back 34, sides and 36 and a front 31. The top, bottom, back and sides of the container 30 are closed with wire mesh screen or perforated plate permitting free circulation of the conditioning medium through the container asthe container is conveyed through the casing I.

The front 31 of the container is open and is adapted to be closed to confine the tobacco within the interior of the container by doors 4!], 40 which are hinged to the front 31 of the container 30 at 39, 39. The interiorof the container 40 is divided in half, to form compartments 30a and 30b, by a transversely extending perforated plate or wire mesh partition 38, extending from the back 34 to the front 31 of said container. Access to the said compartments 38a and 30b may be had by opening the doors 4%, 40 which respectively close the said compartments 30a and 39b at the front thereof. 7

Springs 4|, 4| each having one end secured to one of the pivots 39 and the opposite end bearing against the inside of the frame of each of the doors 4!! tends to swing the doors open at all times, such tendency normally being resisted and the door being locked in container-closing position by a pin 42 projecting downwardly from each of the frames of the doors 4!! and engaged by a cam surface 43 of a latch 44 which is pivoted at 45 to the underside of the bottom 32 of the container 30. The latch 44 is provided with a handle 46 adapted for swinging the latch about its pivot to engage the cam surface 43 with the pin 42, for

amazes Each container 30 is provided with a pair of 'depending hinge lugs 48 which are pivotally con-- nected to hinge lugs 49, 49 carried by each of the chain links 2|, by pivot pins 50:, 50..

Projecting downwardly from the central front portion of the bottom frame 32 is a bracket 5| in which is. secured a stud or axle 52 for rotatably receiving a roller or wheel 53 which is adapted to ride on the outer rails I2 and I2a of the track I.

The loading of the containers 30 is accomplished at a loading station D along a section of that portion of the track III which is disposed outside the casing I, intermediate the opposite ends thereof. The receptacles containing the different varieties of tobacco to be blended are disposed ad jacent the track I0 along the iloading station D to be readily accessible to the attendants loading .the conveyer consisting of the train of containers Each of the containers 3B is adapted to be tilted rearwardly, as indicated in Fig.3, in one direction transversely of the track I0 andfor this purpose a portion I2b of the outer rail I2a is elevated above the horizontal plane of the rail section I2. The portion I2b iof the said outer rail is provided with an inturned flange I20 disposed above andoverhanging the tops-of the container rollers 53, to prevent tilting of the containers 30 beyond a predetermined angle.

The containers 30 are tilted rearwardly' for the purpose of facilitating the loading of the compartments 30a and 30b of each. container'with the bundles of tobacco leaves from the various receptacles disposed along the'loading station D. In loading the containers 3llithe tobacco leaves of the several varieties are laidin an uprightposition against the rearwardly inclined back wall 34 of the container with the heads of the bundles resting on the correspondingly rearwardly tilted bottom 32 of the container. The bundles are loosely packed in the container in this manner until full, whereupon the doors 40, 43 are closed and locked by the latches '44' by the attendant nearest the far end d of the loading station D, or automatically by means located near the said end of the loading station, as the train of containers moves in the direction of the arrow a, Fig. 1. r

The outer rail I2e is inclined as illustrated at I2d from the level of the one end of the elevated portion I20 to level of the curved end section I3 of said outer rail, said curved section being in such a plane relative to the horizontal plane of the flange I5a of the sprocket I5 as to move the containers from the rearwardly tilted positions shown in Fig. 3 to the substantially horizontal or level positions shown in Fig. 4, as the sprocket I5 rotates and moves the'train of conveyer containers from that portion of the track I!) outside the casing I on to that portion of the track within the casing I, said containers enteringthe casing I at the end E thereof and continuing in the level positions completely through the said casing, from which the containers successively emerge at the end F thereof.

As the containers are carried around the sprocket I6 the curved end I4 of, the outer rail of the track 'II) begins to fall away vertically and inwardly toward the axis of the sprocket, asindicated at Ida in Figs. 1. andv 2. The said curved portion Ma of the outer rail of the track l0 merges with a compound curved portion I2e of ,the outer rail I2'a, which in turn merges into a vertically disposed portion I 2f of the rail.

As the containers move around sprocket Hi the wheels 53 of the containers ride the inwardly descending portion Ha of the curved end H of said rail, which causes the containers to tilt outwardly :as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5, and as the movement of the containers continues and the wheels 53 ride the compound curved portion I 2c of the said outer rail and on to the vertical portion I2 thereof the said containers 30 are tilted to a position substantially at with respect to the normal level position in which they travel through the casing I, such position being clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

As each container moves into a position wherein its roller 53 is in engagement with the vertical portion I 2 of the outer rail I 2a, the doors 40? of the containers 30 are automatically opened by'the lugs 41a of the latches 44 engaging an inclined 25.

earn 55, which is supported in a fixed position adjacent the vertical portion I2) of the outer rail by a bracket 56, as clearly indicatedin Figs; 9 and 10. As the latches 44 successively release the doors 40 of the containers 30 the doors 40 are 30 swung open to the position shown in Fig. 4 by the springs 4| whereby the entire contents of each compartment of each container 30 is discharged from the container, in the present instance on to the carrying run of a belt conveyer 60 by which 35 With the doors of the container open, the said containers then pass from the discharging station G to the receiving end d of the loading..sta-- tion D, said containers being moved from the extreme forwardly tilted position in Fig. 4 to the: rearwardly tilted loading. position shown in Fig. 3,. by the wheels 53 riding an outwardly and upwardly bent compound curved portion I2'g of the: outer rail I2a.

The sprockets I5 and I6, either or both, may

be driven by any suitable motive power through any suitable type of power transmission, for driving the chain 20 continuously or intermittently, as occasion may demand or as may be desired,. for carrying the train of conveyer containersalong the course and through the cycle of movements described above.

In a foregoing portion of the specification the doors 4!), 40 of the containers 3!] are described as being closed by the attendant nearest the far end of the loading station D, or by automatic means located near the said'end of the loading platform. Such means is clearly shown in Figs. 13 and 14, wherein, as the containers 30 move along the. track II! in the direction of the arrow (1, Fig.1, and near the end d of the loading station D, with the doors 40 of the containers open, the ends 41a of thearms 41 of the latches 44 engage a flared end I25a. of a rail or angle bar I25 which is rigidly mounted adjacent and extends parallel to the rail I2a. of the track I0, see Figs. 22 and 23,. to

first assure the positions of the latches correctly for passage of the locking pins 42 on the doors 40 into position to be engaged by the cam surfaces 43 of the latches.

The leading door 40a, i. e. the door toward the right side of each container is closed by the door engaging and outwardly flared end I26a of a rail I26 rigidly secured to, adjacent and above the rail I 2a of the track I II.

The trailing door, 1. e. the door toward the left side of each container is provided with a lug or arm I2'I, which, as the container moves along the track III, engages a flared end I28a of a fixed rail I28, paralleling the rails I20; and I25, which swings the door 4% into a closed position.

The doors are held in their closed positions by the rails IE6 and I28 until the container reaches the extreme end 11 of the loading station D, whereupon the outer ends of the latch arms 46 engage a flared end I29a on a spring-pressed plate I29, which swings the latches 44 into their door-locking positions before described.

The automatic door-closing attachment above described is preferable to the manual closing of the doors, however, the doors may be closed manually and the automatic closing attachment provided as a safety means should the attendant for some reason fail to close one or more of the container doors, and in any event the springpressed plate I29 will function to press the latches 44 firmly into their door-looking positions before the containers are tilted forwardly from their rearwardly inclined loading positions to their normal horizontal or level positions in which they travel through the conditioning chamber.

I claim:

1. A blending and conditioning apparatus comprising a casing providing a conditioning cham- -ber, a conveyer track extending in a horizontal 40 plane longitudinally through the conditioning chamber and outside the casing along and adjacent one side thereof to provide a loading station, a conveyer operating on said track and comprising a train of operatively connected substantially 16 rectangular containers each provided with a side door for loading and unloading of the containers, a depression in one side of the track at one end of the loading station for tilting the containers transversely to discharge the contents therefrom, and an elevation along said side of the track for tilting the containers in an'opposite transverse direction along said station for loading of the containers.

' 2. A blending and conditioning apparatus comprising a casing providing a conditioning chamber, a conveyer track extending in a horizontal plane longitudinally through the conditioning chamber and outside the casing along the adjacent one side thereof to provide a loading station, a conveyer operating on said track and comprising a train of operatively connected substantially rectangular containers each provided with a side door for loading and unloading of the containers, a depression in one side of the track at one end of the loading station for tilting the containers transversely, to discharge the contents therefrom, means for opening the container doors to permit discharge of the contents, and an elevation along said side of the'track for tilting the containers in an opposite transverse direction along said station for loading of the containers.

'3. A blending'and conditioning apparatus comprising a casing providing a conditioning chamber, a conveyer track extending in a horizontal plane longitudinally through the conditioning chamber and outside the casing along and adjacent one side thereof to provide a loading station, a conveyer operating on said track and comprising a train of operatively connected substantially rectangular containers each provided with a side door for loading and. unloading of the containers, a depression in one side of the track at one end of the loading station for tilting the containers transversely to discharge the contents therefrom, means for opening the container doors to permit discharge of the contents, an elevation along said side of the track for tilting the containers in an opposite transverse direction along said station for loading of the containers, means for maintaining the doors in an open position for manual closing at a desired point along the loading station, and means for locking the doors in a closed position during travel of the containers through the conditioning chamber.

4. A blending and conditioning apparatus comprising a casing providing a conditioning chamber, a conveyer track extending in a horizontal plane longitudinally through the conditioning chamber and outside the casing along and adjacent one side thereof to provide a loading station, a conveyer operating on said track and comprising a train of operatively connected substantially rectangular containers e'ach provided with a side door for loading and unloading of the containers, a depression in one side of the track at one end of the loading station for tilting the containers transversely to discharge the contents therefrom, means for opening the container doors to permit discharge of the contents, an elevation along said side of the track for tilting the containers in an opposite transverse direction along said station for loading of the containers, means for maintaining the doors in an open position for manual closing at a desired point along the loading station, safety means for positively closing said doors at a predetermined point along said loading station, and means for locking the doors in a closed position during travel of the containers through the conditioning chamber.

' 5. A blending and conditioning apparatus comprising a casing providing a conditioning chamber, a conveyer track extending in a horizontal plane longitudinally through the conditioning chamber and outside the casing along and adjacent one side thereof to provide a loading station, a conveyer operating on said track and comprising a train of operatively connected substantially rectangular containers each' provided with a side door for loading and unloading of the containers, a depression in one side of the track at one end of the loading station for tilting the containers transversely to discharge the contents therefrom, means for opening the container doors to permit discharge of the contents, an elevation along said side of the track for tilting the containers in an opposite transverse direction along said station for loading of the containers, means for maintaining the doors in an open position, means for automatically closing said doors at a predetermined point along the loading station, and means for locking the doors in a closed position during travel of the containers through the conditioning chamber. I v

6. The combination of a continuous conveyer track disposed in a general substantially horizontal plane, a series of individual containers connected as a continuous train operating on said track and provided respectively with side openings for loading and unloading of the conveyer,

doors respectively closing said openings, said track comprising a pair of container-supporting rails having relatively depressed and elevated portions for tilting the containers transversely of the track to facilitate and effect loading and unloading of the containers through said side openings, and means adjacent said depressions for opening said doors.

7. A conveyer structure comprising a train of normally vertical containers arranged to travel in a substantially horizontal path and each having a side opening for loading and unloading thereof, a door normally closing said opening and. pivoted on a vertical axis substantially parallel to and adjacent the vertical edge of said side opening, means connecting said containers for relative lateral rocking motion with respect to said path, means for rocking the containers from said normal vertical position to a substantially horizontal position with the door closed opening underneath, and means for opening said door While a container is in said horizontal position to efiect discharge of the contents thereof through said side opening and substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of said train.

8. A conveyer structure comprising a train of normally vertical containers arranged to travel in a substantially horizontal path and each having a side opening for loading and unloading thereof, a pair of doors normally closing said opening and pivoted on vertical axes substantially parallel to and adjacent opposite vertical edges of said side openings respectively, means connecting said containers for relative lateral rocking motion with respect to said path, means for rocking the containers from said normal vertical position to a substantially horizontal position 5 with the door cloedopening underneath, and means for opening said doors while a container is in said horizontal position to efiect discharge of the contents thereof through said opening and substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of said train;

9. A conveyer structure comprising a train of normally vertical containers arranged to travel in a substantially horizontal path and each having a side opening for loading and unloading thereof, a door normally closing said opening and pivoted on a vertical axis substantially parallel to and adjacent the vertical edge of said side opening, means connecting said containers for relative lateral rocking motion with respect to said path, means for rocking the containers from said normal vertical position to a substantially horizontal position with the door closed opening underneath, means for maintaining said door in its closed position, and means for releasing said door to permit opening thereof while a container is in said horizontal position to efiect a discharge of the contents thereof through said opening and substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of said train.

HERMANN S. BOGATY.

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