US2341386A - Conveyer control apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1944. L. o. REICHELT EIAL QONVEYER CONTROL APPARATUS 1942 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed 1m. 10

TOENEY INVENTQES L. O. ,EE/CHELT G. C. SPILLMHN Y ,4

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Patented Feb. 8, 1944 2,341,386 CONVEYER CONTROL APPARATUS Lester 0. Reichelt, Cranford, and Gordon 0. Spillman, Roselle, N. J., assig'nors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated; New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 10, 1942, Serial No. 465,120

12 Claims. (Cl. 193-40) This invention relates to article conveyer control apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for controlling the movement of reels rolling on an inclined trackway- It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a simple apparatus for accurately regulating the travel of articles on a conveyer.

In accordance with One embodiment of the invention, an apparatus is provided for regulating the speed of travel of reels rolling alonga trackway wherein a reel entering a predetermined blocked section of the trackway initiates the operation of an electric circuit, which circuit automatically efiects the release of a blocking de-v vice in said section of the trackway after a, predetermined interval of time has elapsed to permit the reel which tripped the circuit to resume its travel along the trackway. As the reel passes out of engagement with the blocking device, it actuates a circuit restoring switch, which restores the circuit to normal position for operation by a succeeding reel. v

A better understanding of the invention will be had by reference to the following detailed ,description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a conveyer, for use in connection with a. flyer strander and provided with control apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts of the apparatus being broken away to illustrate the construction of parts positioned in therear thereof;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View, taken substantially alone the line 22 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a. circuit schematic showing, diagrammatically, the electrical connections for controlling, the mechanical structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; 1

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan section through the control, portion of the apparatus taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; I

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows; and H Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

,In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate the same parts throughout the several views, a reel IE] is shown in dot and dash lines in a number of positions in the apparatus. The apparatus comprising the herein disclosed embodiment of the present invention is adapted foruse in connection with the mechanism disclosed. in the co-pending application of Axel C. Nystrom and Lester O. Reichelt, Serial No- 397,402,: filed JunelO, 1941, wherein the reels I0 roll down a conveyer track H, the left end (Fig. 1)., of which is rounded, as shown at [2, to permit reels It] to roll off the conveyer track ll onto, atrackway l3. As seen most clearly in Fig. 2, the trackways l and 13 are comprised of angle members 14 and. Hi and I6 and I1, respectively.

The angle members I4 and [5 are mounted upon suitable supporting brackets l8 and I9, respectively, which extend from the upper surface of angle iron frame members 20 and 2|. The angle members 14 and I5 are rounded, a indicated at l2,;an the angle members lfiand I! are curved on an are having. the same center point as the rounded portion l2 of the angle members Hand l5. The angle members It and I! extend up:- wardly to provide a guide 22, forming an extension of the trackway l3 and serving to direct reels l0 rolling off the left end of the track ll onto the trackway l3. The angle members 20 and 21 and the angle members l6 and I! are supported by posts 2323 and 24-24, which are fixed in base angle members 25 and 26.

It will be noted, by referenceto Fig. 1, that the trackway l3 slopes downwardly to the right and that the track ll slopes downwardly to the left, Thus, the reels ID on the track II will rolldown thetrack II and oil the end of it and thence onto the lower track i3. Due to the fact that the weight of the reels varies to a considerable ex tent, their momentum will vary to an appreciable extent and reels on the trackway I3 might be damaged unless they are checked after they have dropped oil the trackway ll. 7 r i In the present embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by forcing each reelto engage a pair of wedge plates 30 and 3| in direct vertical alignment with the angle members l6 and IT. The wedge plates 30 and 3| are supported by the framemember 20 and 2i, being mounted on the underside of supporting plates 32 and and an angle support plate 34, which plates are, in turn, mounted on the horizontal flangeof the iramemembers 20 and 2|. A reel l0, which has dropped off the track II and rolled down the" steeplysloping portions of the angle members 16 and I! will be ,wedged against the wedge plate so by-aninclined platform 35, which is normally positioned, as shown Figs. 1 and 5. rrhepiat form 35 is held in place on-the an gle member l6 and l 'l by' pins 36 and 31, which extend through apertures 38 and 39 in the angle members I6 and I1 and are fixed to the under side of the platform 35. The pins 36 and 31 are each provided with a washer 48, which is locked onto its pin by a cotter pin 4|, whereby the platform 35 is permitted to move relatively to theangle members l6 and I1 to a limited extent. Adjacent its right end, the platform 35 has pivoted on its under side a pair of plungers 42 and 43, which extend down through a pair of cylinders 44 and 45, respectively. The lower ends of the plungers 42 and 43 are threaded to receive lock nut assemblies 46 and 41, which serve to prevent the plunger and, consequently, the platform 35, from moving upwardly beyond the position shown in Fig. 5. Encircling the plungers 42 and 43 are a pair of compression springs 48 and 49, respectively, which engage the bases of the cylinders 44' and 45 and the under side of the platform 35 normally to urge the platform to the position shown in the various views.

Mounted on the angle members l6 and H. are.

a-pair of tapered members 55- and 56, which are.

designed to guide a reel l3 onto the platform 35. The tapered member 56 is pivotallymounted on a pin 51' and is normally urged upwardly (Fig. )-by a plunger 58 of -aswitch 59i The switch 59 is normally open and is adapted .to be closed, upondepression of the tapered member 56, to depress the plunger 58 and thereby close the switch. The switch 59 (Fig. 3) v is connected to a lead 68 running to one side of a current source 6|. connected through a normally-closed switch .62- so that when the switch 59 is closed, the lead 66 will be connected through theswitches59 and 62- to'windings 63 and64 of a doublewound relay 65. The other end of the .windings 63 and 64 is connected-through a lead 66 to the-opposite side of the current source 6|. Thewinding 63 of the relay 65controls= the operation ofnormally open contact 6? and immediatel-y'upon th closure of the switch 59,- the winding63 will be energized to close contacts 67 for providinga holding circuit from lead-66 through switch 62 to the windings 53 and 64.

The winding 64 of the relay 65 is provided with a suitable meansfor delaying its'operation, for example, a copper slug 68. Therefore, the winding 64' will *not'be effective to close its associated-contacts 69 imrnediately upon the closure of't-heswi'tch 59, but will delay closing the contact 69 for a predetermined interval. Closure of the contacts 69 will connect the lead 66 to one side of the winding 16 of a solenoid II, the other side of the Winding of which is connected-directly to the lead 65. The solenoid H is provided with a plunger 72 adapted 'to be attracted-upon energization of the solenoid and when the switch 59 closes, a circuitwill be completed to the winding 63 of relay 65 to close contacts 61 and current will'also be supplied through the switch 62 to the-winding 64. This circuit, to hold the relay 65 energized, will be maintained untilthe switch 62 is opened and the continued application of current to the winding-64 will, after a predeterminedinterval, cause the closure of switch69,thereby to energize the solenoid ll.

Thesolenoid ll is mounted upon a suitable bracket 86 and its plunger 12 is connected to a slidable table 8|, which is mounted for sliding movement to the right or left (Figs. 4 and 5) on a pair of rollers'82, mounted in a suitablehousing 83. The sides of the housing 83 have retaining plates 85 fixed thereto for retaining The other side'of the switch 59 is the table 8| in position on the rollers 82. EX- tending upwardly from the table BI is a, bracket 86, to which is attached the left end of a contractile spring 81 (Figs. 4 and 5). The right end of the contractile spring 81 is adjustably attached to a bracket 88 mounted on the end of the housing 83 by means of an adjustment screw 89.

From the foregoing, it is believed to be apparent that the table 8| is normally urged to the right (Figs. 4 and 5) into engagement with the end wall of the housing 83 and, upon energiz'ation of the solenoid 1|, the table 8| will be moved to the left. The table 8| has extending upwardly from it a pair of projections 90 to which there are pivoted toggle links 9| (Figs, 4, 5 and 6). The toggle links 9| are, in turn, pivoted at their upper ends to projections 92 extending downwardly from the under side of the platform 35. By reference to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the toggle links 9| receive pivot pins 93, which pivotally connect them to the projections 92;.in elongated slots 94 so that the platform 35' is not held: rigidly in its upper position by the toggle; 9|, but is permitted alimitedamount of movement with respect to the link 9.1. Thus, when a reel l8 rolls onto the platform 35; it will depress the platform slightly against the action. ofv the springs 38. and 49 and the rims of the reel will not be damaged. Theswitch 62.15 adapted to beactuated by. a reel after the reel has been releasedfrom the platform35 and, accordingly; .theswitch 62' ismounted. on the under side. of: the angle member H andv is. adapted to have its plunger I66 actuated by a. lever, |0|=mounted;fon oscillation on a pin I62, whichais, inturn,,mounted in a block I83.

A better understanding of the invention will: be had by reference to thefollowing briefzde'e. scriptionof the mode of operation thereof. After the reels have been used in' some previoustoperation, for example, those operations describedaiin' detail in the co-pending application of Axel C. Nystrom and Lester O. Reichelt,v Serial No. 397,402, filed June 10, 1941, the reels may bepermitted to roll down the sloping conveyer track! II and from the track ontothe trackway I3 As the reels leave the steeply-sloping sectionof the trackway l3 and approach the-gradually sloping section thereof, they will engage the tapered member 56 and depress theplunger 58-to close switch 59. Theclosure of switch 5-9 will supply current to the windings 63 and 64 of the relay 65 through normally closed switch '62. As soon as the reel |0 rolls offthe tapered member 56; the switch 59 will open, but the circuit-to the windings 63 and 64 Willbe maintained through contacts 61*, which closed as soon as the winding 63 was energized. Thus, the circuitto' the windings 63 and 64 will be maintained through normally closed switch 62 until the switch 62 is opened by the reel l0 engagingathe lever II, which opens switch 62. The windin'g 64 of relay 65 will be energized assoon-asthe switch 59 is closed and will bemaintained ener gized as long as the switch 62 is closed and the switch 62 will remain closed until the reel-l0 efiects its opening. After the circuit to the winding'64 of relay 65 has been maintained'for apredetermined interval, the slow-to-closecontacts 69 will close and will complete the operating cir-- cuit-to the solenoid 1|. Whenthesolenoid -'H is energized over this circuit, the table -8|-wil-l be drawn to the left (Figs. 4 and 5) and will per mit the weight of the reel I'll wedged betweentheplatform 35 and the wedge -plate -30- to depress noid 1|, roll onto the gradually inclined section of the trackway l3. As the reel l rolls ofi the platform 35, it will engage the lever I0! to cause the lever l0l to open switch 62. When switch 62 opens, the circuit from lead 60 through closed contact 61 and switch 62 to the windings of relay 65 will be broken and the circuit will be restored to normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, ready to start another cycle of operation.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for regulating the movement of articles on a conveyer, means on the conveyer for blocking movement of an article, means on the conveyer positioned between the entrance end of the conveyer and said blocking means for initiating a releasing operation of said blocking means, means controlled by said means on the conveyer between the entrance end of the conveyer and the blocking means for moving said blocking means out of the path of the article after a predetermined interval, and means on the conveyer between the blocking means and the exit end of the conveyer for resetting the means for releasing the blocking means under control of an article released by the blocking means.

2. In a conveyer for reels, the trackway down which reels may roll, wedging members along said trackway, one of which is movable, means operated by an article for initiating a cycle of movement of the movable wedging member,'a time delay mechanism controlled by said means operated by the article for moving said movable wedging member a predetermined time after the operation of the means operated by the article, and means also operated by the article for resetting said last mentioned means.

3. In an apparatus for regulating the travel of reels along an inclined track comprising a wedge plate above said track, a platform on said track for receiving reels thereon, a slidable plate positioned beneath said trackway, toggle mechanism interconnecting said platform and slidable table, a solenoid for moving said table to effect movement of the platform through the toggle mechanism, means operable by the reel for preparing the solenoid for operation, and automatic means under control of said last mentioned means for supplying current to energize the solenoid a predetermined time after said last mentioned means is operated.

4. In an inclined trackway for reels, an inclined platform for receiving reels, a wedge plate cooperating with said platform to wedge a reel between them, a toggle mechanism for holding said platform in position with a reel between it and the wedge plate, a solenoid operable for releasing said platform, and a time delay mechanism operable under control of a reel on the trackway for initiating operation of the solenoid a predetermined interval after the article engages the platform.

5. In an inclined trackway for reels, an inclined platform for receiving reels, a wedge plate cooperating with said platform to wedge a reel between them, a toggle mechanism for holding said platform in position with a reel between it and the wedge plate, a solenoid operable for releasing said platform, 'atime'delay mechanism operable under control of a reel on the trackway for initiating operation of the solenoid a predetermined interval after the article engages the platform, and means operable by the article after it is released from the platform for releasing the solenoid. v

6. An apparatus for regulating the movement of articles on a conveyer comprising an upwardly inclined pivoted track, a fixed horizontal member cooperating with said track to wedge an article between them and stop its movement on the conveyer, a switch operable by an article just prior to the articles engagement with the inclined track, and means controlled by said switch for moving the track out of position to cooperate with the horizontal member after the lapse of a predetermined time interval.

7. In an apparatus for controlling the travel of articles on a conveyer, means movable to stop an article on the conveyer, and a circuit controlled by the article including a switch closed by the article, a solenoid operable to move the means for stopping the article on the conveyer to position to release the article, and time delay means operable under control of the switch for initiating operation of the solenoid a predetermined time after the article operates the switch.

8. In an apparatus for controlling the travel of an article on a conveyer, means normally blocking movement of an article on the conveyer, means for moving the blocking means out of its normal position, a control circuit for said moving means including means operable by an article for initiating operation of the circuit, means controlled by the last mentioned means for supplying power to operate the moving means after a predetermined time interval, and means controlled by the article for resetting the circuit.

9. In an apparatus for controlling the travel of articles on a conveyer, means movable to stop an article on the conveyer, and a circuit controlled by the article including a switch closed by the article, a solenoid operable to move the means for stopping the article on the conveyer to position to release the article, and a time delay relay operable under control of the switch for initiating operation of the solenoid a predetermined time after the article operates the switch.

10. In an apparatus for controlling the travel of articles on a conveyer, means movable to stop an article on the conveyer, a circuit controlled by the article including a switch closed by the article, a solenoid operable to move the means for stopping the article on the conveyer to position to release the article, a time delay relay operable under control of the switch for initiating operation of the solenoid a predetermined time after the article operates the switch, and a locking circuit operable under control of said switch for maintaining the circuit to the time delay relay.

11. In an apparatus for controlling the travel of articles on a conveyer, means movable to stop an article on the conveyer, a circuit controlled by the article including a switch closed by the article, a solenoid operable to move the means for stopping the article on the conveyer to position to release the article, a time delay relay operable under control of the switch for initiating operation of the solenoid a predetermined time after the article operates the switch, a locking circuit operable under control of said switch for maintaining the circuit to the time delay relay, and a second means controlled by the article for releasing the locking circuit.

12.: In an apparatus'efor controlling the travel of articles on a conveyer, m'eansmovable. to stop an article onthe conveyer, acircuit: controlled by the article including a switch closedby: the article, a solenoid'operable to move the meansrfor stopping the article on the conveyerto position to release the article, a time delay relay operable under: controllof the. switch for initiating: operation or the; solenoid. a predetermined 7 time, after: the-article operates: the: switch, alocking circuit operable under control of said! switch for maintaining; the; circuit to the? time delay relay; andiai switch operable by the article after thearticle is released-Ion opening the: locking circuit.

LESTER Oa-REICHELT. GORDON C. SPILLMAN.

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