US3776546A - Selective article director multiposition gate - Google Patents
Selective article director multiposition gate Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3776546A US3776546A US00298351A US3776546DA US3776546A US 3776546 A US3776546 A US 3776546A US 00298351 A US00298351 A US 00298351A US 3776546D A US3776546D A US 3776546DA US 3776546 A US3776546 A US 3776546A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- gate
- walking beam
- relays
- positions
- articles
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
- B07C3/02—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
- B07C3/06—Linear sorting machines in which articles are removed from a stream at selected points
- B07C3/065—Linear sorting machines in which articles are removed from a stream at selected points construction of switches therefor
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03D13/00—Processing apparatus or accessories therefor, not covered by groups G11B3/00 - G11B11/00
- G03D13/003—Film feed or extraction in development apparatus
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03D15/00—Apparatus for treating processed material
Definitions
- ABSTRACT An article directing gate selectively routes advancing articles such as photoprints into any of three offbear paths in accordance with simultaneous energization of different combinations of two of four electromagnet relays with the other two remaining deenergized.
- the relay armatures act on the pivoted gate through a walking beam and gate crank arm.
- This invention relates to a new and improved gating mechanism for the selective routing of conveyed articles, such as photoprints or negatives in an automatic packaging or processing machine, such as wherein the prints are to be directed to any one of three points of disposal.
- conveyed articles such as photoprints or negatives
- the prints are individually premarked according to whether they are to be accepted, remade or rejected and are to be directed accordingly by sensing the markings and directing their route of conveyance to any of three appropriate receiving points.
- the invention is herein illustratively described by reference to the preferred embodiment thereof; however it will be recognized that certain modifications thereof with respect to details may be made without departing from its essential features.
- a broad object of this invention is to provide a positive and quick-acting director gate mechanism having at least three settings of the gate.
- a related object is to devise such a gate mechanism of low cost which can be manufactured using readily available electromagnet relay actuators.
- a further object hereof is to devise a selective director gate mechanism the actuators of which are energized electrically and thereby easily controlled by electrical signals so as to facilitate automated or semiautomated control of the gate.
- a specific object is to provide an improved director gate for use in a photoprint sorting and packaging machine or the like.
- the invention provides a high-speed multiposition sorting gate by which photoprints or similar articles moving rapidly in succession along a conveyor path may be directed individually into any one of three offbear paths without interruption or slowing of the movement.
- the prints or other articles are moving so fast that selective operation of the gate constitutes essentially a flicking motion, so rapidly must it change positions at times between articles in order to intercept and deflect the path of each.
- operation of the gate must be positive and consistently reliable in order to perform its sorting function adequately.
- the invention features a plate-like gate member pivoted intermediate its ends on a transverse shaft by which it is tilted variably into any of three positions by a crank arm operated through controlled shifting of a walking beam.
- the ends of the walking beam are independently movable to either of two opposite positions, this being carried out by means of electromagnet relays which are energized in selected combinations.
- FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are side views of the gate mechanism and associated conveyor parts in each of the gates three respective operating positions.
- FIG. 4 is a partial sectional end view taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 1.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a means to control relay energization.
- articles A such as photo prints, are infed on supporting belt conveyor 108 and at a point therealong by the cooperating conveyor 1 12.
- the moving articles encounter the article directing gate which is in the form of a wedgeshaped plate member having a leading edge 120a.
- the plate-like member tapers to its leading edge 120a and is pivotally mounted on shaft 120b transversely oriented to the direction of movement of articles A.
- the axis of pivot is in the plane of the plate-like member and is situated generally intermediate its leading and lagging edges.
- a notch 120g formed in and along the upper lagging end of the plate-like member 120 allows clearance for driven conveyor roller 114 with the gate in its remake (i.e. most counterclockwise rotated) position shown in FIG. 2.
- its leading edge is depressed interceptingly beneath the line of infeed of the moving articles A emerging from conveyor 108 so as to deflect the articles upwardly and over the surface of the platelike member.
- selective interceptive deflection and direction of the advancing articles by the leading edge of platelike member 120 depends upon the mechanisms capability of elevating and depressing the members leading edge to respective positions above and below the article path in conjunction with appropriate angular positioning of the member so that its guiding top or bottom surface directs the article thereafter into the correct new direction.
- the gate guides the article for a sufficient distance of travel to assure positive guidance and/or conveyance thereafter by other means such as the offbear conveyors 116, 118 or 112, 114. Flexibility of the articles (such as photoprints) and their length sufficient for them to reach and be engaged by the offbear conveyors 114, 112 or 116, 118 before leaving the grip and feeding effect of conveyors 108, 112.
- the gate assures positive transfer of the articles to and beyond the intervening space occupied by the nonfeeding gate 120. If a relatively longer gate is used it may in certain instances be appropriate for the gate to incorporate its own article engaging and feeding means that exert an advancing force on the articles assuring their traverse of the gate.
- Pivot shaft 120b non-rotationally fixed to the platelike gate member 120, passes rotatably through journal apertures in frame plate 162 at each end of the gate.
- shaft 120b rigidly mounts a crank arm 1200 projecting generally upward from shaft 12027.
- a transversely projecting actuator shaft 120d on the outer end of crank arm 1200 projects therefrom parallel to journal shaft 120b.
- Actuator shaft 120d is rotatively socketed in a walking beam 12C at a location intermediate the ends of the latter. The upper and lower ends of the walking beam are carried by upper and lower shuttles 121 and 123.
- the shuttles comprise cylindrical sockets 121a and 123a in which the ball-shaped upper and lower ends of the walking beam are slidably and pivotally received.
- Shuttle 121 interjoins the aligned and opposed armatures 125a and 127a of electromagnet relays 125 and 127.
- shuttle 123 interjoins the aligned and opposed armatures 129a and 131a of relays 129 and 131 extending parallel to relays 127 and 125; also generally parallel to the infeed direction of articles A.
- energization of the coil of relay 125 with relay 127 deenergized draws the shuttle 121 toward relay 125, and with it in the upper end of walking beam 120a.
- Conversely energization of relay 127 with relay 125 deenergized draws the shuttle oppositely.
- Relays 129 and 131 work similarly on the shuttle 123 and thereby the lower end of the walking beam.
- simultaneous energization of relays 125 and 131 with their counterparts 127 and 129 deenergized shifts both ends of the walking beam in the same direction as in FIG. 2 and thereby rocks the gate 120 into its counterclockwisemost or remake position.
- simultaneous energization of relays 127 and 129 with their counterparts 125 and 131 deenergized as in FIG. 3 shifts both ends of the walking beam in the same direction and thereby positions the gate 120 in its opposite extreme or reject position.
- the intermediate or accept setting of the gate is accomplished by energization of relays 125 and 129 with relays 127 and 131 deenergized. This latter setting could be achieved also by the alternative of energizing relays 127 and 131 with relays 125 and 129 deenergized.
- relays comprise two pairs of relays, the members of each of said pairs being positioned in mutual alignment and having oppositely acting armatures, the armatures of one of said relay pairs being commonly connected to one end of the walking beam and the armatures of the other of said relay pairs being commonly connected to the opposite end of said walking beam.
- the gate mechanism defined in claim 2, wherein the connector means comprises a crank arm connected to the gate member for tilting the same and connected to the walking beam for rocking the crank arm by shifting of the walking beam in accordance with selective energization of the relays.
- a photoprint and similar article conveyor system comprising infeed conveyor means for the articles, three offbear receiving means for the articles generally aligned with said infeed conveyor means and branching in relatively different directions therefrom, and article directing gate means including a member pivotally mounted in general alignment with said infeed conveyor means ahead of said offbear receiving means and movable angularly into any of three positions to direct the articles selectively to any of said offbear receiving means, said gate means including a plurality of electromagnet relays operatively connected to the gate member and arranged by selective energization of selected combinations of said relays to move the gate member selectively from any of such three positions to either of the other positions.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
- Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
- Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US29835172A | 1972-10-17 | 1972-10-17 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3776546A true US3776546A (en) | 1973-12-04 |
Family
ID=23150129
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00298351A Expired - Lifetime US3776546A (en) | 1972-10-17 | 1972-10-17 | Selective article director multiposition gate |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3776546A (sk) |
JP (1) | JPS5628831B2 (sk) |
CA (1) | CA977712A (sk) |
CH (1) | CH573271A5 (sk) |
DE (1) | DE2345804A1 (sk) |
GB (1) | GB1387958A (sk) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4518161A (en) * | 1982-01-22 | 1985-05-21 | Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Sheet sorting apparatus |
US20100038848A1 (en) * | 2008-08-18 | 2010-02-18 | Unisys Corp. | Pocket selector gate with self locking geometry |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2757848A1 (de) * | 1977-12-23 | 1979-06-28 | Agfa Gevaert Ag | Vorrichtung zum sortieren von fotografischen bildern |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3278021A (en) * | 1964-05-18 | 1966-10-11 | Addressograph Multigraph | Document sorting apparatus having over center gate means |
US3352554A (en) * | 1965-07-06 | 1967-11-14 | Ciba Ltd | Device for separating two superimposed moving sheets |
US3356362A (en) * | 1965-10-20 | 1967-12-05 | Mestre Luis | Sheet sorter having pivoted ramp |
US3556518A (en) * | 1967-08-16 | 1971-01-19 | Windmoeller & Hoelscher | Apparatus for shifting a deflector in a machine for processing paper or plastics material sheeting, preferably a tube-making machine |
-
1972
- 1972-10-17 US US00298351A patent/US3776546A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1973
- 1973-06-06 CA CA173,295A patent/CA977712A/en not_active Expired
- 1973-06-07 GB GB2726873A patent/GB1387958A/en not_active Expired
- 1973-08-20 JP JP9323873A patent/JPS5628831B2/ja not_active Expired
- 1973-09-11 DE DE19732345804 patent/DE2345804A1/de not_active Withdrawn
- 1973-09-13 CH CH1316873A patent/CH573271A5/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3278021A (en) * | 1964-05-18 | 1966-10-11 | Addressograph Multigraph | Document sorting apparatus having over center gate means |
US3352554A (en) * | 1965-07-06 | 1967-11-14 | Ciba Ltd | Device for separating two superimposed moving sheets |
US3356362A (en) * | 1965-10-20 | 1967-12-05 | Mestre Luis | Sheet sorter having pivoted ramp |
US3556518A (en) * | 1967-08-16 | 1971-01-19 | Windmoeller & Hoelscher | Apparatus for shifting a deflector in a machine for processing paper or plastics material sheeting, preferably a tube-making machine |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4518161A (en) * | 1982-01-22 | 1985-05-21 | Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Sheet sorting apparatus |
US20100038848A1 (en) * | 2008-08-18 | 2010-02-18 | Unisys Corp. | Pocket selector gate with self locking geometry |
US8002118B2 (en) * | 2008-08-18 | 2011-08-23 | Burroughs Payment Systems, Inc. | Pocket selector gate with self locking geometry |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE2345804A1 (de) | 1974-04-25 |
CA977712A (en) | 1975-11-11 |
JPS4972867A (sk) | 1974-07-13 |
JPS5628831B2 (sk) | 1981-07-04 |
CH573271A5 (sk) | 1976-03-15 |
GB1387958A (en) | 1975-03-19 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CIBA-GEIGY CORPORATION, STATELESS Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:CX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004894/0472 Effective date: 19870611 Owner name: CIBA-GEIGY CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:CX CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004894/0472 Effective date: 19870611 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GRETAG SYSTEMS, INC., WASHINGTON Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:CIBA-GEIGY CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY;REEL/FRAME:005503/0131 Effective date: 19901029 |