US3776344A

US3776344A - Article induction system

Info

Publication number: US3776344A
Application number: US00233596A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Harrison
Original assignee: Spra-Con Co
Current assignee: Spra-Con Co
Priority date: 1972-03-10
Filing date: 1972-03-10
Publication date: 1973-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-04

Abstract

A system for handling articles which are to be moved from a supporting surface to a receiving area comprising an article engaging paddle and associated drive means. The drive means comprise a conveyor for moving the paddle over the supporting surface with the paddle in article engaging position. The conveyor automatically locates the paddle out of article engaging position upon return movement of the paddle, and then brings the paddle into position for engaging a succeeding article on the supporting surface. The paddle is preferably pivotally connected relative to the conveyor and a cam is positioned for engaging the paddle just prior to its movement into article engaging position. This cam serves to maintain the end of the paddle within relatively small lateral limits whereby the paddle can be inserted into article engaging position without sacrificing space requirements in the construction. The provision of the paddle is particularly useful in systems employing high speed conveyors as the supporting surface since the paddle insures movement of articles along the conveyor even if the conveyor surface should slip beneath an article located thereon.

Description

United States Patent [191 Harrison ARTICLE INDUCTION SYSTEM [75] Inventor: John Harrison, Lincolnwood, Ill.

[73] Assignee: The Spra-Con Company, Chicago,

22 Filed: Mar. 10, 1972 21 App]. No.: 233,596

52 U.S.Cl. ..19s/20,19s/24 51 Int. Cl. 865g 47/00 58 Field of Search ..19s/221-225,

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Aegerter AttorneyMcDougall, Hersh & Scott [57] ABSTRACT A system for handling articles which are to be moved [4 1 Dec. 4, 1973 from a supporting surface to a receiving area compris ing an article engaging paddle and associated drive means. The drive means comprise a conveyor for moving the paddle over the supporting surface with the paddle in article engaging position. The conveyor automatically locates the paddle out of article engaging position upon return movement of the paddle, and then brings the paddle into position for engaging a succeeding article on the supporting surface. The paddle is preferably pivotally connected relative to the conveyor and a cam is positioned for engaging the paddle just prior to its movement into article engaging position. This cam serves to maintain the end of the paddle within relatively small lateral limits whereby the paddle can be insertedinto article engaging position without sacrificing spacerequirements in the construction. The provision of the paddle is particularly useful in systems employing high speed conveyors as the supporting surface since the paddle insures movement of articles along the convey-or even if the conveyor surface should slip beneath an article located thereon.

14 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures UJ UJT UUU B B U/ PATENTED DEC 4 I975 SHEET 1 OF FIG. 1

rllli ai ELI; lILI 3,776,344 sum 20F PMENIEDHEE 4 m5 L W .l I I T N mzoN l m 1 ARTICLE INDUCTION SYSTEM This invention relates to a conveyor system and more particularly to means for efficiently handling articles to be moved onto a conveyor. The invention is particularly directed to means which will load articles onto a conveyor or other receiving means in a controlled and reliable fashion.

The use of conveyorswhich include automatic means for loading and unloading the conveyors is rapidly increasing. Furthermore, the requirement for high speed operation is more and more common and, accordingly, automatic systems which permit high speed operation must be developed. One of the basic problems involved in such developments is the handling of the articles in a fashion such that the articles will not be damaged. Thus, articles cannot be moved onto a conveyor in a manner such that there will be any severe impact or tumbling of the articles. This is particularly true where fragile articles are being continuously handled or in applications such as post office operations where fragile articles are included in at least a significant part of the packages handled.

Attempts have been made to provide for manual loading of articles on conveyors; however, this technique is unsatisfactory since it severly limits the speed of conveyor movement. The limitations of manual loading are even more pronounced where automatic discharge of the articles is required. In such systems, endless conveyors move adjacent a plurality of discharge stations located along the conveyor path. Articles are placed on the conveyor at a loading station, and coding means are actuated at the same time. The articles will then be automatically discharged at a particular discharge location. It is naturally very difficult for even a relatively skilled person to apply a code and load an article on a particular conveyor area when the conveyor is moving at very high speed.

Some mechanical systems have been proposed for loading articles onto moving conveyors such as described, for example, in Harrison, et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,333,677 and 3,339,699. These systems provide a table located above the path of movement with pusher means being provided for sweeping articles off the table and onto moving conveyors. Other arrangements are described in Harrison application Ser. No. 45,174, filed on June 9, 1970 and entitled Conveyor Loading System, now abandoned, and in Harrison application Ser. No. 185,311, filed on Sept. 30, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,776, and entitled Pusher Loading Means For Conveyors.

The Harrison applications describe a loading arrangement which provides for the introduction of articles in a very efficient fashion from the standpoint of achieving a high speed operation. Specifically, pusher means for the articles are located at relatively widely spaced intervals so that articles can be introduced be tween the pusher means with relative ease even when the pusher means are moving very rapidly. By using separate sets of pusher means operating in timed sequence with conveyor carrying areas, all of the carrying areas on a conveyor can be efficiently loaded even though high speed induction means are not used.

In arrangements of the type described in the aforementioned Harrison applications, and in various other conveyor constructions, it is desirable to provide automatic loading of articles so that manual efforts can be confined to coding or to other less demanding operations. Particularly in systems of the types described in the aforementioned applications where high speed operation is involved, automatic loading can become complicated when articles of various weights and sizes are encountered. For example, if very thin and light articles, and even larger packages which are very light in weight, are encountered, a high speed conveyor may slip beneath the articles whereby the articles will not move to a receiving .area at the proper time. This can be serious where articles have been coded and must be directed to a specific receiving area moving adjacent the article induction means, the receiving area being designated for the code.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved article loading system for high speed conveyors.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a loading system for conveyor constructions which permits high speed operation of a conveyor even where articles of widely differing sizes and weights are being handled.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specific embodiments of the invention are I shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an article handling system including induction means characterized by the layouts for induction means of the type contemplated by the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevational view illustrating conveyor means and a pusher apparatus which may be utilized in conjunction with the induction means of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a conveyor roll design suitable for use in combination with induction means of the invention;

FIG.'5 is a plan view of a conveyor assembly as it appears in association with the induction means of the invention; I

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the assembly shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken about the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the paddle and associated supporting end carriage means employed in induction means contemplated by the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the induction mechanisms taken about the line 99 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating carriage support means and taken about the line l0-l0 of FIG. 1 l;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view taken about the line ll-ll of FIG. 8;'

FIG. 12 is a plan view, partly cut away, of the structures shown in- FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the paddle con-' struction as it appears in association'with the article conveyor bed; I

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the paddle construction in association with the conveyor bed;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary illustration of a conveyor bed of the type preferably employed in association with the induction meansof the invention; and,

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of the drive sprocket arrangement preferably utilized for a conveyor of the type shown in FIG. 15.

This invention generally relates to an induction system for use in conjunction with a conveyor. The system has varying applications, however, for purposes of illustration, the system will be described with reference to conveyors having a plurality of article carrying areas with a loading platform being positioned alongisde the path of conveyor movement. The invention provides for the movement of articles onto the surface of the loading platform and then onto an article carrying area.

In the arrangements described in the aforementioned Harrison applications, the movement of the articles is accomplished by means of pusher means which are supported on a separate conveyor. The pusher means sweep over the platform surface and tracks guide the pusher means angularly toward the conveyor after the pusher means have engaged an article. The pusher means may include an end paddle which closes after engagement of an article so that the' article is cornered by the pusher means to maintain the article in engagement with the pusher means until the article has been despoited on a conveyor. The speeds of the pusher means and conveyor are synchronized so that the entire loading operation is carried out in a very gentle fashion with no abuse being applied to any articles even though the conveyor may be operating at very high speed.

The system of the instant invention is generally related to means for moving articles from a supporting surface to a receiving area for the articles. The system may have a variety of applications including applications involving the mere transfer of articles from one point to another without any other conveyor mechanisms being involved. In the environment of the aforementioned applications, the system is useful for moving articles onto a platform surface over which pusher means are moved. Thus, the mechanisms of this invention operate to accurately and efficiently locate articles relative to such pusher means so that the over-all conveyor system including the pusher means can be more efficiently utilized.

The system of this invention particularly includes an article engaging paddle which is movable over a supporting surface for articles. The paddle is mounted on conveyor means comprising an endless driven member which moves the paddle means along an article engaging path and then moves the paddle means out of arti cle engaging position during a return movement of the paddle means so that the paddle means can be located for the next article engaging movement. Thus, the conveyor repeatedly moves the paddle means back and forth with one portion of the movement serving to move articles over the supporting surface.

The supporting structure for the paddle means is tied to the endless driven member, and a carriage is employed to provide a guide track for the paddle support. Both the carriage and paddle support operate in reciprocal fashion relative to the supporting surface whereby the desired back and forth movement for the paddle can be accomplished.

FIGS. 1 through 7 of the accompanying drawings illustrate an article handling construction including various conveyor means, and incorporating a system of the type contemplated by this invention. A first conveyor means includes a plurality of trays 10 adapted to receive articles and to move articles past discharge locations along the path of conveyor movement. Suitable systems for accomplishing discharge of articles are described or referred to in the aforementioned patents and applications.

The conveyor trays follow a path of movement extending alongside a loading platform 12. This platform supports articles 14 which are engaged by pushers 16 for movement of the articles onto the conveyor trays. The pushers follow a path illustrated at 18 to accomplish this discharging action. As shown in FIG. 3, the pushers are supported on a conveyor 20 which moves the pushers in a continuous fashion over the platform 12 and into position relative to the trays 10.

An induction system for delivering articles to the platform 12 includes a conveyor structure 22 with a standing platform 24 being provided for workmen. The conveyor 22 may take various forms; however, a preferred structure includes an arrangement of the type illustrated in FIGS. 4-7. This conveyor structure involves opposed angle supports 26 and 28 which rotatably receive spindles 30. Drive sprockets 32 are mounted on the ends of these spindles.

In ZONE N0. 1 illustrated in FIG. 6, a drive chain 34 operated by motor 36 drives the sprockets.

Additional drive chains

38, 40 and 42 are driven by motors 44; 46 and 48, respectively.

:t, The spindles each carry article supporting discs 50 which may be rubber discs to provide frictional engagement with the articles carried on the conveyor. In the event rubber discs are used, metal disc members 52 are located on either side of the rubber discs 50 to provide adequate support.

In the use of a conveyor such as shown in FIGS. 4 7, the operator may load articles at the front of ZONE No. 1 without consideration of the spacing between articles. The articles may be in abutting relationship; however, the conveyor system is designed so that the articles will automatically spread out as they are moved along the conveyor. This is accomplished by decreasing the number of sprocket teeth in the sprockets from the loading end of ZONE No. 1 to the end to the end adjacent ZONE No. 2. Since the peripheral speed of the discs will increase as the number of sprocket teeth decrease, greater speed will be imparted to the articles as they move through ZONE No. l. The same sprocket design is employed with respect to thesprockets in ZONE No. 2; however, in this instance. the motor 44 will drive the chain 38 faster than the motor 36 drives the chain 34. Similarly, the motor 46 will drive the chain 40 faster than the chain 38. An arrangement of this general type is described in Stuller, et el. US. Pat. No. 3,202,263.

ZONE No. 3 of the conveyor 22 constitutes an induction means for delivering articles to the platform 12. As illustrated particularly in FIGS. 5 and 6, the conveyor structure is essentially the same in ZONE No. 3 with the sprockets 32 being driven by chain 42 and motor 48. In the illustration of FIG. 1, the conveyor 22 is located perpendicular to the platform 12; however, as illustrated in FIG. '2, conveyors 22 or'22" are suitable for use. In each instance, the ZONE No. 3 conveyor section serves to move articles onto the platform 12 irrespective of the direction taken by these articles when moving to the induction means. There are other arrangements for the conveyors which are also feasible depending upon the space available for a particular installation.

The induction system of the invention includes a paddle 54 carrying a plate 56 which serves as the engaging means for articles located on the conveyor surface. The paddle is welded to a supporting bracket 58 which is connected to a movable support 60.

A pivotpin 62 (FIG. 11) is the principle means for securing the bracket 58 to the movable support. This pivot pin is rotatable within a bore defined by the main body portion 64 of the movable support. A pair of

rollers

66 and 68 are rotatably positioned around the pivot A second pin 70 is secured to the body on a 64, and the exposed portion of the pin located above the collar 72 is movable within a slot 74 defined by the plate 58. Accordingly, the plate 58 and associated paddle are adapted to pivot relative to the body portion 64. A pair of

rollers

76 and 78 are mounted on the pin 70,

The body portion 64 carries wheels 80 located at each corner thereof. The wheels 80 are confined between upper plate 82 and lower plate 84of the carriage assembly. These plates are held together by means of bolts 86 and spacer collars 88. A pair of

movable plates

90 and 92 are located on top of the upper plate 82, and the movable plates define slots 94 which receive the bolts 86. The

plates

90 and 92 are adjustable whereby the

upper rollers

66 and 76 of the paddle support can be accurately confined between the inner edges of these movable plates. By providing an adjustable arrangement of this type, a smooth and stable movement of the support 60 relative to the track defined by the

plates

90 and 92, can be accomplished.

The plates 82 and 84 and associated elements provide a carriage 85 movable along rails 96 and 98 which extend parallel with the conveyor 22. Downwardly extending

flanges

100 and 102 are formed at the ends of chain. This paddle support moves back and forth relative to the carriage along the path defined between the

adjustable plates

90 and 92. Accordingly, the paddle 54 is located in an article engaging position when the sup port 60 moves along the closest flight of the chain, and is out of article engaging position when the support moves along the farthest flight of the chain.

As noted above, the conveyor 22 is designed to move packages or other articles into ZONE No. 3 in spaced relation to each other. It is desirable, however, to limit the space between the articles to provide an operation of maximum efficiency. Accordingly, the system of this invention includes means which permit insertion of the paddle 54between packages which are relatively close together.

Referring to FIGS 8 and 11, it will be noted that a stop element in the form of roller 120 is positioned on longitudinal support 121 for engaging the paddle 54 as the paddle moves rearwardly with the paddle support 60 moving along the lower flight of the drive chain. Because of the pivotal mounting of the paddle, the rearward movement of the paddle is limited by the roller 120 so that the paddle canmove between the packages located on the conveyor 22 even though these packages are relatively closely spaced. Thus, in the absence of the roller 120, the paddle 54 would move well be from the next package. With the described arrange ment, the end of the paddle 54 does not move into the opening defined between the two packages until the paddle reaches the intermediate dotted line position shown in FIG. 8. As the conveyor movement continues,

. plate 58 pivots back to an upright position, this acplates 82, and these flanges support rollers 104 which I ride on the

hexagonal tracks

96 and 98.

As best shown in FIG. 8, the conveyor

side frame members

26 and 28 are connected by means of transversely extending supports 106. In the area of the paddle, these transverse supports extend outwardly to provide a connection for a longitudinally extending sup port 108. A pair of

sprockets

110 and 112 are rotatably carried on this longitudinally extending support, and a motor (not shown) is provided for driving one of these sprockets.

An endless drive chain 114 is carried on the sprockets, and a yoke element 116 (FIGS. 9 and 11) is attached to links of this chain. Accordingly, movement of the chain will create corresponding movement of the yoke element, and this element includes an upwardly extending shaft 118 which ties the element to the main body portion 64 of the support 60. As the drive chain moves, the support will, therefore, follow.

The connection between the drive chain 114 and support 60 creates movement of the carriage 85 along the

rails

96 and 98. Thus, the support is permanently attached to the carriage, and any movement of the support will cause the carriage to move from right to left (FIG. 8) when the support moves along the flight of the chain closest to the conveyor and from left to right when the support moves along the flight farthest from the conveyor. Accordingly, a reciprocal movement is imparted to the carriage 85 as long as the drivechain is operative.

The paddle support 60 is also continuously moving relative to the carriage during operation of the drive tion minimizing the space necessary for penetration of the arm behind the more forwardly located package on the conveyor. The plate may be spring loaded at the pivot pin 62 to insure the return pivoting movement of the plate and associated paddle.

The paddle 54 can, of course, be employed for moving packages onto a platform 12 or to another receiving area. In the peferred use of the paddle, however, it is utilized in conjunction with a conveyor such as shown in ZONE No. 3 where the conveyor discs accomplish a portion of, and in some instances, all of the conveying function. For example, in cases where a relatively heavy package is involved, sufficient friction will develop between the package and the discs to move the package forward rapidly without any assistance from the paddle. The discs 50 are preferably rotated rapidly when moving articles onto the platform 12 so that high speed operation of the pushers 16 will be possible.

The rapid movement of the discs 50 may, however, become a problem when packages are relatively light. Thus, the discs may slide relative to the packages whereby the package will not move forward at the desired speed, and thus miss engagement with the proper pusher moving over the platform 12. Since a destination code is often applied to packages in systems of this nature, this could lead to chronic misdirecting of lighter packages.

With the paddle assembly of this invention, such' problems are eliminated. Thus, the paddle will engage each package at least to the extent necessary tos'tart the package moving sufficiently toenable engagement by the discs 50. In a typical embodiment of the invention, the operation of the paddle may be synchronized with the disc operation so that the speed of the paddle will approximate the peripheral speed of the discs. To accommodate very thin articles, a brush may be attached on the underside of the paddle so that the article cannot slide beneath the paddle.

ln constructions of the type involved, an electric eye may be located adjacent the front of ZONE No. 3 whereby packages will be stopped at this point. The operation of the ZONE No. 3 conveyor will then depend upon movement of a pusher into position, the pusher then actuating the switch or some other mechanism to initiate movement of the package toward the platform 12. In order to incorporate the system of this invention into an arrangement of that type, a switch may be lo cated adjacent the cam so that the paddle movement will be discontinued when that switch is engaged by the paddle. Operation of the paddle can then be initiated by the same mechanism which operates the ZONE No. 3 conveyor so that the paddle will automatically move in behind a package destined for movement onto the platform 12.

-It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the above described invention without departing from'the spirit thereof, particularly as set forth in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In an article induction system wherein articles are moved from a supporting surface to a receiving area, the improvement comprising an article engaging paddle, and conveyor means connected to said paddle whereby the paddle is movable over the supporting surface for engaging articles for movement of the articles to the receiving area, said conveyor means comprising an endless driven member and means for driving said member, a paddle support tied to said member whereby said paddle and said support are moved by said driven member, a movable carriage, mounting means for the carriage positioning'the carriage adjacent said driven member, a track defined by said carriage, said support engaging said track whereby said carriage moves with the support, the carriage track at least assisting in controlling the position of the paddle relative to said supporting surface.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said paddle is pivotally mounted on said carriage, a cam member mounted in the path of movement of said paddle for engaging the paddle and thereby pivoting the paddle, said cam member being positioned whereby the outer end of the paddle is moved substantially directly inwardly over the supporting surface with a minimum of lateral displacement of said end relative to an article located on the supporting surface.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said paddle support includes a plate member, said paddle being connected to said plate member and said plate member being pivotally mounted to permit the pivotal movement of the paddle. v

4. A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said support carries a pivot pin for connecting the plate to the support, a second spaced-apart pin carried on said support, an elongated slot defined by said plate receiving said second pin, the combination of said slot and pin determining the extent of pivoting movement of the plate and associated paddle.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said endless driven member comprises a drive'chain movable in a horizontal plane, said chain having spacedapart flights moving parallel with each other and paralled to the direction of movement of said articles, the paddle support being tied to a chain section and extending perpendicularly relative to said flights, said paddle being located over said article supporting surface when said chain section is located in the light closest to said receiving area whereby the paddle is in an article engaging position, and said paddle being located out of article engaging position when said section is located in the other flight during return movement of the paddle.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said paddle is pivotally mounted on said carriage, a cam member mounted in the path of movement of said paddle for engaging the paddle and thereby pivoting the paddle, said cam member being positioned whereby the outer end of the paddle is moved substantially directly inwardly over the supporting surface with a minimum of lateral displacement of said end relative to an article located on the supporting surface.

7. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said carriage mounting means comprise opposed rails positioned adjacent said flight and extending parallel thereto, said carriage moving in reciprocal fashion along said rails as said paddle moves in and out of article engaging position.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the track defined by said carriage extends perpendicular to the path of movement of articles on said supporting surface, and wherein said paddle reciprocates relative to said carriage into and out of article engaging positions.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8 including rollers mounted on said paddle support for engaging said track.

10. A system in accordance with claim 7 including rollers mounted on said carriage for engaging said rails.

l l. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said supporting surface comprises an article conveyor and including means for driving said conveyor, said conveyor driving means driving the article conveyor surface at a speed approximating the speed of said paddle whereby the speed of articles on the conveyor surface will be maintained when an article slips relative to the conveyor surface.

12. A construction in accordance with claim 11 wherein the lower edge of said paddle is positioned closely adjacent the surface of said article conveyor when the paddle is in article engaging position.

13. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said means for driving the article conveyor impart a high speed to the conveyor whereby significant momentum is developed in articles located on the conveyor, said receiving area being characterized by movable article receiving locations, and means for initiating the high speed driving means for said article conveyor responsive to movement of an article receiving location into position for receiving an article.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13 including means for stopping the operation of the drive means for said endless driven member when said paddle has been moved to a position such that further movement thereof will move the paddle over the article conveyor surface into article engaging position, and means for reinstituting movement of said driven member and paddle upon operation of said means for initiating the high speed drive for said article conveyor.

* B i i 78

Claims

1. In an article induction system wherein articles are moved from a supporting surface to a receiving area, the improvement comprising an article engaging paddle, and conveyor means connected to said paddle whereby the paddle is movable over the supporting surface for engaging articles for movement of the articles to the receiving area, said conveyor means comprising an endless driven member and means for driving said member, a paddle support tied to said member whereby said paddle and said support are moved by said driven member, a movable carriage, mounting means for the Carriage positioning the carriage adjacent said driven member, a track defined by said carriage, said support engaging said track whereby said carriage moves with the support, the carriage track at least assisting in controlling the position of the paddle relative to said supporting surface.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said paddle support includes a plate member, said paddle being connected to said plate member and said plate member being pivotally mounted to permit the pivotal movement of the paddle.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said endless driven member comprises a drive chain movable in a horizontal plane, said chain having spaced-apart flights moving parallel with each other and paralled to the direction of movement of said articles, the paddle support being tied to a chain section and extending perpendicularly relative to said flights, said paddle being located over said article supporting surface when said chain section is located in the light closest to said receiving area whereby the paddle is in an article engaging position, and said paddle being located out of article engaging position when said section is located in the other flight during return movement of the paddle.

11. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said supporting surface comprises an article conveyor and including means for driving said conveyor, said conveyor driving means driving the article conveyor surface at a speed approximating the speed of said paddle whereby the speed of articles on the conveyor surface will be maintained when an article slips relative to the conveyor surface.