WO2005021410A1

WO2005021410A1 - Conveyor with two supply conveyors, two discharge coveyors and transfer means therebetween

Info

Publication number: WO2005021410A1
Application number: PCT/NL2004/000523
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacobus Marie Van Den Goor
Original assignee: Vanderlande Industries Nederland B.V.
Priority date: 2003-08-29
Filing date: 2004-07-22
Publication date: 2005-03-10
Also published as: NL1024194C2

Abstract

A conveyor comprising at least two supply conveyors (1, 2) disposed above one another, as well as at least two discharge conveyors (3, 4) disposed above one another for discharging objects being supplied by the supply conveyors (1, 2), with transfer means (5) being provided between the discharge ends of the supply conveyors (1, 2) and the ends of the discharge conveyors (3, 4) that face towards the supply conveyors (1, 2) for transferring objects from the supply conveyors (1, 2) to the discharge conveyors (3, 4). The transfer means (5) comprises auxiliary conveyors (6, 8, 10, 12) which are pivotable about horizontal pivots (7, 9, 11, 13). A compensation mechanism (14-17) is furthermore provided for compensating the difference in the distance between a discharge end of a supply conveyor (1, 2) and the ends facing towards the supply conveyors (1, 2) of the two discharge conveyors (3, 4) disposed above one another that is to be bridged by the transfer means (5).

Description

CONVEYOR WITH TWO SUPPLY CONVEYORS , TWO DISCHARGE CONVEYORS AND TRANSFER MEANS THEREBETWEEN

DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a conveyor comprising at least two supply conveyors as well as two discharge conveyors. Many conveyors comprise supply conveyors disposed beside or above one another, by means of which objects can be transferred to discharge conveyors which are more or less in line with the supply conveyors in question. In practice, however, there is frequently a need for selectively transferring objects being supplied by a supply conveyor to one of the discharge conveyors. A first aspect of the invention concerns a conveyor comprising at least two supply conveyors disposed above one another, as well as at least two discharge conveyor disposed above one another for discharging objects being supplied by the supply conveyors, with transfer means being provided between the discharge ends of the supply conveyors and the ends of the discharge conveyors that face towards the supply conveyors for transferring objects from the supply conveyors to the discharge conveyors, ,>which transfer means comprise auxiliary conveyors which are pivotable about horizontal pi ots^wherein, in a first position of said transfer means, the discharge end of the upper supply conveyor of the two supply conveyors disposed above one another is in communication, via the transfer means, with the upper discharge conveyor of the two discharge conveyors disposed above one anotner and the discharge end of the lower supply conveyor of the two supply conveyors disposed above one another is in communication, via the transfer means, with the lower discharge conveyor of the two discharge conveyors disposed above one another, whilst in a second position of the transfer means a discharge end of one supply conveyor of the two supply conveyors disposed above one another is in communication, via the transfer means, with the other discharge conveyor of the two discharge conveyors disposed above one another, whilst a compensating mechanism is provided for compensating the difference in the distance between a discharge end of a supply conveyor and the ends facing towards the supply conveyors of the two discharge conveyors disposed above one another that is to be bridged by the transfer means in said first position and said second position. Using the construction according to the invention, the objects coming from a supply conveyor can be transferred to one of the two discharge conveyors in an effective manner, whilst an adequate connection of the discharge end of the supply conveyor in question to the desired discharge conveyor can be effected at all times. Another aspect of the invention concerns a conveyor comprising at least two supply conveyors disposed beside one another as well as two discharge conveyors disposed beside one another for discharging objects being supplied by the supply conveyors, with transfer means being provided between the discharge ends of the supply conveyors and the ends of the discharge conveyors that face towards the supply conveyors for transferring objects from the supply conveyors to the discharge conveyors, which transfer means comprise at least one auxiliary conveyor as well as a moving mechanism for moving objects that are present on the upper surface of the auxiliary conveyor, all this in such a manner that, in use, an object coming from a discharge end of a supply conveyor is transferred to a first discharge conveyor of the two discharge conveyors via said at least one auxiliary conveyor without the moving mechanism being activated, and that said object is transferred to the other discharge conveyor of the two discharge conveyors when the moving mechanism is activated. By using this embodiment, the transfer of objects being supplied by a supply conveyor to a desired discharge container can be effected by simply moving objects over an auxiliary conveyor disposed between the supply conveyors and the discharge conveyors. The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to a few possible embodiments of a conveyor according to the invention as shown in the accompanying figures. Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a conveyor comprising two supply conveyors disposed above one another, two discharge conveyors disposed above one another, and transfer means disposed between said supply conveyors and said discharge conveyors, which transfer means are shown in a first position thereof. Figs. 2 and 3 are side elevations corresponding to Fig. 1, in which the transfer means are shown in various other positions. Fig. 4 is a view of a part of the conveyor of Figs. 1-3, showing another possible embodiment of the transfer means. Figs. 5-30 show further possible embodiments of a conveyor comprising two supply conveyors disposed above one another and two discharge conveyors disposed above one another, with transfer means disposed therebetween. Figs. 31-37 schematically show a conveyor according to the invention comprising three supply conveyors disposed above one another, three discharge conveyors disposed above one another as well as transfer means disposed between said supply conveyors and said discharge conveyors. Figs. 38-43 are top plan views of various embodiments of a conveyor comprising two supply conveyors disposed beside one another, two discharge conveyors disposed beside one another, as well as transfer means disposed between said supply conveyors and said discharge conveyors. The conveyor that is schematically shown in Figs. 1-3 comprises two supply conveyors 1 and 2 disposed above one another as well as a discharge conveyor 3 substantially in line with the supply conveyor 1 and a discharge conveyor 4 positioned under the discharge conveyor 3, substantially in line with the supply conveyor 2. Transfer means 5 are provided between the facing ends of the supply conveyors 1 and 2 and the discharge conveyors 3 and 4 that are shown in Fig. 1. Objects being supplied in the direction indicated by the arrow A by means of the supply conveyors can be transferred to the discharge conveyors by the transfer means 5, as indicated by the arrows B, for further transportation of the objects in the direction indicated by the arrow C. As will be apparent from Figs. 1-3, in this embodiment the transfer means are made up of auxiliary conveyors which are pivotable about horizontal pivots. One end of an auxiliary conveyor 6, which connects with the discharge end of the upper supply conveyor 1, is pivotable about a horizontal pivot 7 located near said discharge end of the supply conveyor 1. A further auxiliary conveyor 8, which connects with the discharge end of the supply conveyor 2, is similarly pivotable about a horizontal pivot 9 located near the discharge end of the supply conveyor 2. A further auxiliary conveyor 10 is pivotable about a horizontal pivot 11 located near the end of the discharge conveyor 3 that faces towards the supply conveyor 1. Similarly, a further auxiliary conveyor 12 is pivotable about a horizontal pivot 13 located near the end of the discharge conveyor 4 that faces towards the supply conveyor 2. In the position that is shown in Fig. 1, the auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10 connecting with the upper supply conveyor 1 and the upper discharge conveyor 3 are in line, and the two auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12 connecting with the lower supply conveyor 2 and the lower discharge conveyor 4, respectively, are likewise in line. It will be understood that in this position of the transfer means 5 comprising the auxiliary conveyors, objects being supplied by means of the upper supply conveyor 1 will be transferred to the discharge conveyor 3 via the auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10, whilst objects being supplied by means of the lower supply conveyor 2 will be transferred to the lower a discharge conveyor 4 by means of the auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12. In order to supply objects from the upper supply conveyor 1 to the lower discharge conveyor 4, the auxiliary conveyor 6 connecting with the upper supply conveyor 1 can be pivoted downwards, and the auxiliary conveyor 12 connecting with the lower conveyor 4 can be pivoted upwards, in such a manner that the two auxiliary conveyors 6 and 12 will be at least substantially in line, as is shown in Fig. 2. To obtain sufficient height for objects being moved by means of the auxiliary conveyors 6 and 12, the auxiliary conveyor 10 that connects with the discharge conveyor 3 can be pivoted upwards, as is also shown in Fig. 2^'. Similarly, the auxiliary conveyor 8 that connects with the lower supply conveyor 2 can be pivoted upwards and the aux liary conveyor 10 that connects with the upper discharge conveyor 3 can be pivoted downwards for transferring objects from the lower supply conveyor 2 to the upper discharge conveyor 3, in such a manner that the two auxiliary conveyors will be at least substantially in line, as is shown in Fig. 3. As is also shown in Fig. 3, the auxiliary conveyor 6 that connects with the upper supply conveyor 1 can be pivoted upwards to make sufficient room for objects moving over the auxiliary conveyors. As will be apparent in particular from Figs. 2 and 3, however, the distance to be bridged by the auxiliary conveyors in a pivoted position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is larger than the distance to be bridged by the auxiliary conveyors between a supply conveyor and a discharge conveyor that is at least substantially in line with said supply conveyor. In order to be able to guarantee a smooth transportation of the objects all the same, the transfer means also comprise a compensating mechanism for compensating said difference in distance. In the embodiment that is shown in Figs. 1-3, a compensating mechanism is provided at the end remote from the supply conveyor 1 of the auxiliary conveyor 6 that connects with said supply conveyor, which compensating mechanism comprises a roller 14, which is pivotally connected to the free end of the auxiliary conveyor 6 by means of arms 15 and extends over the width of the auxiliary conveyor 6. In the position that is shown in Fig. 1, the roller 14 is positioned lower than the joining ends of the auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10. In the position of the auxiliary conveyors that is shown in Fig. 2, the arms 15 and the roller 14 supported thereby have been pivoted through an angle of e.g. 90" by suitable adjusting means, in such a manner that the roller 14 is positioned between the spaced-apart, facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors 6 and 12 so as to compensate for the difference in the distance between the facing ends of the supply conveyor and discharge conveyor, which are at least substantially in line, and the distance between the supply conveyor 1 and the discharge conveyor 4, which is positioned at a lower level . Similarly, a roller 17 is connected to the end of the auxiliary conveyor 8 remote from the supply conveyor 2 by means of arms 16, which roller 17, in the position in which the two lower auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12 are in line, is positioned at a lower level than the ends of said auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12 connecting with one another, whilst in the upwardly pivoted position of the auxiliary conveyor 8 the roller has pivoted into the space between the facing ends of the upwardly pivoted auxiliary conveyor 8 and the downwardly pivoted auxiliary conveyor 10, as is shown in Fig. 3. It will be understood that the compensating mechanism comprising the arms 15 and the roller 14 makes it possible to compensate for the difference in the distance between the facing ends of the supply conveyor 1 and the discharge conveyor 3 on the one hand and the distance between the discharge end of the supply conveyor 1 and the end of the discharge conveyor 4 that faces towards the supply conveyor 2 on the other hand, whilst the compensating mechanism comprising the arms 16 and the roller 17 makes it possible to compensate for the difference in the distance between the facing ends of the supply conveyor 2 and the discharge conveyor 4 on the one hand and the distance between the discharge end of the supply conveyor 2 and the end of the discharge conveyor 3 that faces towards the supply conveyor 1 on the other hand. Although the various conveyors are schematically indicated as endless belts conveyors in Figs. 1 and 3, it will be understood that also different conveyor types may be used, for example roller conveyors. In the embodiments yet to be described in more detail hereinafter, parts that correspond to parts described above with reference to Figs. 1-3 are indicated by the same numerals as in Figs. 1-3. As is schematically indicated in Fig. 4, a single roller 18 forming a compensating mechanism may be used instead of the rollers 14 and 17 that pivot along with the auxiliary conveyors, which roller 18 is fixedly disposed at the level of the vertical plane that extends near the facing ends of the auxiliary conveyors when said auxiliary conveyors are in line, and that in a position such that the roller 18 will be positioned between the facing ends of the pivoted auxiliary conveyors in the position shown in Fig. 2 or in Fig. 3. Generally, such an arrangement of a compensating mechanism made up of a single roller 18 can only be used if such a fixedly disposed roller will not come into conflict with objects being transported from the lower supply conveyor 2 to the lower discharge conveyor 4, considering the height of said objects. The conveyor that is shown in Figs. 5-7 substantially corresponds to the conveyor described above with reference to Figs. 1-3. In this embodiment, a compensating mechanism in the form of arms 19 and a roller 20 supported by said arms is connected to the end of the auxiliary conveyor 12 remote from the discharge conveyor 4 in addition to the compensating mechanism in the form of arms 16 and a roller 17 that is connected to the end of the auxiliary conveyor 8 that connects with the supply conveyor 2. As is shown in Fig. 6, the compensating mechanism formed by the arms 19 and the roller 20 is used for bridging the distance between the free end of the downwardly pivoted auxiliary conveyor 6 and the upwardly pivoted auxiliary conveyor 12, whilst the compensating mechanism formed by the arm 16 and the roller 17 is used for filling the space between the facing ends of the upwardly pivoted auxiliary conveyor 8 and the downwardly pivoted auxiliary conveyor 10 (Fig. 7) . In the embodiment that is shown in Figs. 8-10, a roller 22 is connected to the free end of each of the auxiliary conveyors 6, 8, 10 and 12 by means of two arms 21, said roller 22 extending across the width of the auxiliary conveyor in question. In the position in which the upper auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10 are in line and the lower auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12 are in line, the rollers 22 in question will be positioned under the adjoining ends of the auxiliary conveyors in question. In the downwardly pivoted position of the auxiliary conveyor 6 that connects with the upper supply conveyor 1 and the upwardly pivoted position of the auxiliary conveyor that connects with the lower discharge conveyor 4 as shown in Fig. 9, the rollers 22 connected to the ends of the auxiliary conveyors 6 and 12 in question have pivoted into the space between the facing ends of the auxiliary conveyors 6 and 12, where they serve as a compensating mechanism. In the upwardly pivoted position of the auxiliary conveyor 8 that connects with the lower supply conveyor 2 and the downwardly pivoted position of the auxiliary conveyor 10 that connects with the lower discharge conveyor 3, the rollers 22 connected to the ends of the auxiliary conveyors in question have pivoted into the space between the facing ends of said auxiliary conveyors 8 and 10, where they serve as a compensating mechanism for bridging the distance between the facing ends of the auxiliary conveyors 8 and 10 (Fig. 10). As is schematically shown in Fig. 11, it is also conceivable to provide two rollers 23, in a similar manner as indicated for the roller 18 in Fig. 4, instead of connecting the rollers 22 to the ends of the auxiliary conveyors, which rollers 23 are jointly pivotable about a horizontal pivot, in such a manner that the two rollers 23 can be pivoted about said pivot to a position as shown in Fig. 9 for the two rollers 22 connected to the auxiliary conveyors 6 and 12 and to a position as shown in Fig. 10 for the two rollers 22 connected to the auxiliary conveyors 8 and 10. It will be understood that this fixed position of the two rollers 23 can only be used if said rollers 23 do not come into conflict with objects to be transferred to the lower discharge conveyor by the lower supply conveyor. In the embodiment that is shown in Figs. 12-14, short belt conveyors 25 and 26 are connected to the facing ends of the auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12, respectively, to function as compensating mechanisms instead of the rollers 22 that are shown in Figs. 8-10. In the position in which the two lower auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12 are in l ne, said belt conveyors 25 and 26 are suspended from the facing ends of the auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12 (Fig. 12). In the downwardly pivoted position of the auxiliary conveyor 6 that connects with the upper supply conveyor 1 and the upwardly pivoted position of the auxiliary conveyor 12 that connects with the lower discharge conveyor 4, the belt conveyor 26 that connects with the free end of the lower auxiliary conveyor 12 has pivoted to a position between the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors 6 and 12, where it functions as a compensating mechanism, as is shown in Fig. 13. In the upwardly pivoted position of the auxiliary conveyor 8 that connects with the lower supply conveyor 2 and the downwardly pivoted position of the auxiliary conveyor 10 that connects with the upper discharge conveyor 3, the belt conveyor 25 that connects with the free end of the auxiliary conveyor 8 has pivoted to a position between the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors 8 and 10, where it functions as a compensating mechanism, as is shown in Fig. 14. It will be understood that when such belt conveyors 25, 26 are used as compensating mechanisms, it is possible to bridge a larger distance between the sloping auxiliary belt conveyors 6, 12 and 8, 10, respectively, whilst a correct transfer of the objects to be transported remains ensured. Furthermore it will be understood that it is also possible to connect the belt conveyors 25, 26 to the free ends of the upper auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10 instead of connecting said belt conveyors to the free ends of the lower auxiliary conveyors 8, 12. It is also possible to connect said belt conveyors to the free ends of the two auxiliary conveyors 6 and 8 or to the free ends of the auxiliary conveyors 10 and 12. Furthermore it is possible to provide such a conveyors 25, 26 forming a compensating mechanism in the same manner as indicated for the compensating mechanism formed by the rollers 23 in Fig. 11. In the embodiment that is shown in Figs. 15-17, the pulley 27 for an endless conveyor belt 28 of the auxiliary conveyor 6 that is disposed at the free end of the auxiliary conveyor 6 is mounted in bearings in a part of the frame that is capable of forward and backward movement in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary conveyor 6 with respect to the other part of the frame by adjusting means (not shown). The conveyor belt 28 is passed over two pulleys 29 and a lower-level dancer roller 30 positioned therebetween, which is movable in upward direction against spring force. Similarly, the pulley 31 that is disposed at the free end of the auxiliary conveyor 10 of a conveyor belt 32 forming part of the auxiliary conveyor 10 is capable of forward and backward movement in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary conveyor 10. Also in this case, the conveyor belt 32 is passed over two pulleys 33 and a dancer roller 34 which is movable in upward direction against spring force. In the position of the conveyor that is shown in Figs. 16, in which the auxiliary conveyor 6 that connects with the discharge end of the supply conveyor 1 has pivoted downwards and the auxiliary conveyor 12 that connects with the lower discharge conveyor 4 has pivoted upwards, the pulley 27 of the auxiliary conveyor 6 has moved in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary conveyor 6, towards the free end of the auxiliary conveyor 12, whilst the dancer roller 30 has moved against spring force. It will be understood, therefore, that in this case the adjustable pulley 27 and the movable dancer roller 30 has acted as a compensating mechanism for bridging the distance between the ends of the pivoted auxiliary conveyors 6 and 12. Similarly, the movable pulley 31 and the dancer roller 34, which is movable against spring force, and the parts of the auxiliary conveyor 10 that co-operate therewith will function as a compensating mechanism so as to cause the facing ends of the pivoted auxiliary conveyors 8 and 10 to connect with one another, as is shown in Fig. 17. The embodiment that is shown in Figs. 18-20 largely corresponds to the embodiment that is shown in Figs. 15-17. In this case, however, the conveyor belt 28 of the auxiliary conveyor 6 that connects with the discharge end of the upper supply conveyor 1 is passed over a pulley 35, which is movable against spring force in the direction of the movable pulley 27, and a pulley 36 that is rotatably supported by the frame of the auxiliary conveyor 6 disposed between the pulley 27 and the pulley 35, seen in side view. At its free end, the lower auxiliary conveyor 8 comprises a pulley 37 corresponding to the pulley 27, which is movable in the longitudinal direction of said auxiliary conveyor 8, a pulley 38 corresponding to the pulley 35, which is movable against spring force in the direction of the pulley 37, and a pulley 39 corresponding to the pulley 36, which is supported by the frame of the auxiliary conveyor 8, for guiding the conveyor belt 28' of the auxiliary conveyor 8. As is shown in Fig. 19, the pulley 27 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary conveyor 6 by adjusting means (not shown) when the auxiliary conveyor 6 is in the downwardly pivoted position and the auxiliary conveyor 12 is in the upwardly pivoted position, so as to effect a connection between the auxiliary conveyor 6 and the end of the auxiliary conveyor 12 that faces towards the auxiliary conveyor 6 by means of the compensating mechanism comprising the two movable rollers 27 and 35. In the situation that is shown in Fig. 20, in which the auxiliary conveyor 8 that connects with the lower supply conveyor is in the upwardly pivoted position and the auxiliary conveyor 10 that connects with the upper discharge conveyor is in the downwardly pivoted position, the distance that is present between the ends of said auxiliary conveyors 8, 10 in that situation can be bridged in that the pulley 37 of the auxiliary conveyor 8 is moved in the direction of the end of the auxiliary conveyor 10 that faces towards the auxiliary conveyor 8 by adjusting means (not shown), as a result of which the pulley 38 is moved against the action of the spring force that is exerted on said pulley. It will be understood that in the embodiment that is shown in Figs. 15-17 the compensating mechanism may also be provided on the two lower auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12 or on the two auxiliary conveyors 6 and 8 or on the two auxil ary conveyors 10 and 12 instead of on the two auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10. Thus, the compensating mechanisms as used in the embodiment that is shown in Figs. 18-20 may also be provided on the two auxiliary conveyors 10 and 12 that are disposed above one another, or on the two auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10, or on the two auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12, instead of on the two auxiliary conveyors 6 and 8 that are disposed above one another. Fig. 21 schematically shows by way of example a possible embodiment of a mechanism for adjusting a pulley which is movably disposed at one end of an auxiliary conveyor, for example the pulley 37 discussed above with reference to Figs. 18-20, which is adjustably provided at the free end of the auxiliary conveyor 8. As Fig. 21 shows, one end of a rod 40 is pivotally connected to the pulley 37 that is movable in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary conveyor 8. In the position of the auxiliary conveyor 8 that is shown in full lines in Fig.

21, in which position the auxiliary conveyor 8 is in line with the supply conveyor 2, said rod 40 slopes upwards in the direction of the lower supply conveyor 2, being pivotally connected with its end remote from the pulley 37 to a fixed point 41 of the conveyor. When the auxiliary conveyor 8 is pivoted upwards from the horizontal position that is shown in full lines in Fig. 21, the rod 40 will be pivoted about the fixed pivot point 41, with the pulley 37 moving in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary conveyor 8, so as to extend the operative upper part of the conveyor belt 28' of the auxiliary conveyor 8. Another possibility of moving the pulley 37 of the auxiliary conveyor 8 is shown in Fig. 22. As is indicated in said Fig.

22, studs 43 attached to the ends of the pulley 37 are guided in upwardly extending (preferably vertically extending) guides 44 fixed to the frame of the conveyor. It will be apparent from Fig. 22 that the studs 43 will move through the upwardly extending guides 44 upon upward movement of said auxiliary conveyor 8 from the horizontal position thereof whilst moving the pulley 37 connected to the studs 43 in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary conveyor 8 so as to extend the operative upper part of the conveyor belt 28' that forms part of said auxiliary conveyor. Figs. 23-25 show an embodiment in which the transfer means

5 disposed between the supply conveyors 1 and 2 and the discharge conveyors 3 and 4 comprise a single auxiliary conveyor 50, which, in the position of the conveyor that is shown in Fig. 23, extends between the upper supply conveyor 1 and the upper discharge conveyor 3, as well as a single auxiliary conveyor 51, which, in the position that is shown in Fig. 23, extends between the lower supply conveyor 2 and the lower discharge conveyor 4. From said position, the two auxiliary conveyors 50 and 51 can be pivoted downwards, as is shown in Fig. 24, for transferring an object being supplied by means of the upper supply conveyor 1 to the lower discharge conveyor 4, or upwards to the position that is shown in Fig. 25, for delivering an object being supplied by means of the lower supply conveyor 2 to the upper discharge conveyor 3. A compensating mechanism is provided near the free end of each auxiliary conveyor 50 and 51, which compensating mechanism, in the illustrated embodiment thereof, corresponds to the compensating mechanism 16, 17 that is shown in Fig. 3 and which is made up in this embodiment of a roller 53 that is pivotally connected to one end of a respective auxiliary conveyor 50, 51 by means of arms 52. It will be understood that it is also possible to use one of the other above-described compensating mechanisms in this embodiment. Furthermore it will be understood that the auxiliary conveyors 50 and 51, instead of being pivotable about pivots located near the discharge ends of the supply conveyors 1 and 2, may also be pivotable about pivots located near the ends of the discharge conveyors 3 and 4 that face towards the supply conveyors 1 and 2, wherein the compensating mechanisms will be provided at the ends of the auxiliary conveyors 50 and 51 that face towards the supply conveyors. With the conveyor that is shown in Figs. 26-30, each of the auxiliary conveyors 6, 8, 10 and 12 is built up of a number of conveying elements disposed beside one another, such as narrow belts, ropes, chains or the like. The construction is such that each auxiliary conveyor comprises a number of belts 45 or the like, which extend from the end of the auxiliary conveyor in question that connects with a supply conveyor or with a discharge conveyor over a greater distance than shorter belts 46 or the like disposed between said longer belts 45 or the like, so that the free end of each auxiliary conveyor extends in a comb-like manner, as it were. This is shown in particular in Figs. 29 and 30, Fig. 30 being a larger-scale view of the encircled part in Fig. 29. As will be apparent in particular from Figs. 29 and 30, the arrangement of the belts 45 and 46 of the auxiliary conveyor 6 and the arrangement of the belts 45 and 46 of the auxiliary conveyor 10 are such that in the position in which said two auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10 are in line, as shown in Fig. 26, for example, the ends of the longer belts 45 of the auxiliary conveyor 6 are present in the spaces between the ends of the longer belts 45 of the auxiliary conveyor 10, so that the belts 45 and 46 of the two auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10 form a substantially closed surface in the horizontal position of said two auxiliary conveyors. The arrangement of the belts 45 and 46 of the auxiliary conveyor 8 disposed below the auxiliary conveyor 6 will correspond to the arrangement of the belts 45 and 46 of the auxiliary conveyor 6, and similarly the arrangement of the belts 45 and 46 of the auxiliary conveyor 12 disposed below the auxiliary conveyor 10 will correspond to the arrangement of the belts of the auxiliary conveyor 10. The ends of the belts 45 and 46 of said auxiliary conveyor can still engage each other when the auxiliary conveyor 6 pivots downwards and the auxiliary conveyor 12 pivots upwards (Fig. 27), albeit over a distance shorter than the distance that is shown in Fig. 30, so that this "stepped" arrangement of the belts 45 and 46 of the two auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10 forms a sort of compensating mechanism, which ensures that a suitable connection between the two auxiliary conveyors is effected also in the pivoted position of two auxiliary conveyors. It will be understood that the same applies with regard to the position that is shown in Fig. 28, in which the lower auxiliary conveyor 8 has pivoted upwards and the upper auxiliary conveyor 10 has pivoted downwards. If the construction is such that the ends of the longer belts of the auxiliary conveyors do not overlap, seen in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of Figs. 26-28, in a position in which two aligned auxiliary conveyors have been pivoted from the horizontal position, the stepped arrangement of the belts 45 and 46 of the upper auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10 need not be identical to the arrangement of the belts 45 and 46 of the lower auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12. If the ends of the longer belts of, for example, one auxiliary conveyor 6 or 10 do no overlap the end of the other auxiliary conveyor 12 or 8, respectively, seen in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of Figs. 26-28, in a position in which two aligned auxiliary conveyors have been pivoted from the horizontal position, the auxiliary conveyors may be similar to, for example, the embodiment that is shown in Figs. 1-3. In such a case only the auxiliary conveyors 6 and 10 or the auxiliary conveyors 8 and 12 need to have a "stepped" configuration, therefore. Instead of using two supply conveyors disposed above one another and two discharge conveyors disposed above one another, it is according to the invention also possible to use more than two supply conveyors disposed above one another and more than two discharge conveyors disposed one above another, of course. Thus Figs. 31-37 show an embodiment comprising three supply conveyors 55, 56 and 57 disposed above one another and three discharge conveyors 58, 59 and 60 disposed above one another. The transfer means 5 disposed between said supply conveyors 55-57 and said discharge conveyors 58-60 comprise six auxiliary conveyors 62-67. The auxiliary conveyors 62 and 63 connect with, respectively, the end of the supply conveyor 55 and with the end of the discharge conveyor 58 that is in line with said supply conveyor. Similarly, the auxiliary conveyors 64 and 65 connect with, respectively, the discharge end of the supply conveyor 56 and with the end facing towards said supply conveyor 56 of the discharge conveyor 59 that is in line with the supply conveyor 56. The auxiliary conveyors 66 and 67 similarly connect with the supply conveyor 57 and the discharge conveyor 60, respectively. As is apparent from the various figures, the two supply conveyors 55 and 56 that are disposed directly above one another can be selectively connected with one of the discharge conveyors 58 and 59, all this as explained above, for example with reference to Figs. 1-3, whilst the connection between the lower supply conveyor 57 and the lower discharge conveyor 60 remains ensured through the use of the lower auxiliary conveyors 66 and 67. Similarly, a discharge end of the two lower supply conveyors 56 and 57 disposed above one another can be connected with a desired discharge conveyor 59 or 60 by means of the auxiliary conveyors 64, 67, li ewise in the manner as explained above with reference to Figs. 1-3, whilst the upper supply conveyor 55 remains connected with the upper discharge conveyor 58 via the auxiliary conveyors 62 and 63. Compensating mechanisms as discussed above in the description of the various embodiments will be used with this conveyor as well, of course, but for convenience of comparison said compensating mechanisms are not shown in Figs. 31-37. In the above, several embodiments of a conveyor according to the invention have been discussed, in which embodiments the supply conveyors as well as the discharge conveyors are disposed above one another. Also when supply conveyors disposed beside one another as well as discharge conveyors disposed beside one another are used, it may be desirable, however, to be able to selectively deliver an object being supplied by a supply conveyor to one of the two discharge conveyors. In this connection Fig. 38 schematically shows a top plan view of a conveyor comprising two supply conveyors 70 and 71 disposed beside one another and two discharge conveyors 72 and 73 disposed beside one another. Transfer means are provided between the discharge ends of the supply conveyors 70 and 71 and the ends of the discharge conveyors 72 and 73 that face towards said supply conveyors, which transfer means comprise a single auxiliary conveyor 74, which may be made up of an endless belt 74, for example, by means of which objects being supplied by the supply conveyors 70 and 71 can be transferred to the discharge conveyors 72 and 73, as is indicated by arrows. The transfer means furthermore comprise pusher shoes 75 and 76 arranged in rows on either side of the auxiliary conveyor 74, which move along with the auxiliary conveyors 74. Seen in Figs. 38, the pusher shoes 75 can be moved towards the pusher shoes 76 over approximately half the width of the objects- carrying surface of the auxiliary conveyor 74, and conversely the pusher shoes 76 can be moved towards the pusher shoes 75 over approximately half the width of the objects-carrying surface of the auxiliary conveyor 74. When all the pusher shoes 75 are disposed near one side of the auxiliary conveyor 74 and all the pusher shoes 76 are disposed near the other side of the auxiliary conveyor 74, the objects being supplied by the supply conveyor 70 will be moved recti linearly in order to be transferred to the discharge conveyor 72, whilst objects being supplied by the supply conveyor 71 will be moved recti linearly by the auxiliary conveyor 74 and be transferred to the discharge conveyor 73. As will be apparent from Fig. 38, however, an object being supplied by means of the supply conveyor 70 can be moved over the surface of the auxiliary conveyor 74 by activating a desired number of pusher shoes 75, in such a manner that said object will be positioned near the discharge conveyor 73 that connects with the auxiliary conveyor 74 and be delivered to the discharge conveyor 73 by means of the auxiliary conveyor 74. An object being supplied by the supply conveyor 71 can be moved over the surface of the auxiliary conveyor 74, in the direction of the pusher shoes 75, by activating a desired number of pusher shoes 76, and subsequently be delivered to the discharge conveyor 72 by means of the auxiliary conveyor 74. The embodiment that is shown in Fig. 39 largely corresponds to the embodiment that is shown in Fig. 38. In this embodiment, however, two auxiliary conveyors 74a and 74b disposed beside one another are provided instead of a single auxiliary conveyor 74, the auxiliary conveyor 74a being disposed between the supply conveyor 70 and the discharge conveyor 72 and the auxiliary conveyor 74b being disposed between the supply conveyor 71 and the discharge conveyor 73. It will be understood that an object being supplied by the supply conveyor 70 can be moved from the auxiliary conveyor 74a onto the auxiliary conveyor 74b by means of the pusher shoes 75 to be discharged by means of the discharge conveyor 73, whilst an object being supplied by the supply conveyor 71 can be moved from the auxiliary conveyor 74b onto the auxiliary conveyor 74a by means of the pusher shoes 76 to be discharged by means of the discharge conveyor 72. When the pusher shoes 75 are not activated, an object being supplied by the supply conveyor 70 will be transferred to the discharge conveyor 72 by means of the auxiliary conveyor 74a, and if the pusher shoes 76 are not activated, an object being supplied by the supply conveyor 71 will be delivered to the discharge conveyor 73 by means of the auxiliary conveyor 74b. The embodiment that is shown in Fig. 40 largely corresponds to the embodiment of Fig. 38, and the embodiment that is shown in Fig. 41 largely corresponds to the embodiment of Fig. 39, and consequently parts shown in Figs. 40 and 41 that correspond to parts shown in Figs. 38 and 39 are indicated by the same numerals as used in Figs. 38 and 39. In the embodiment that is shown in Figs. 40, a single pusher plate 77 is provided instead of the pusher shoes 75, which pusher plate can be moved in horizontal direction over the objects-carrying surface of the auxiliary conveyor 74, whilst the pusher shoes 76 have been substituted for a single pusher plate 78, which can be moved in horizontal direction over the objects-carrying surface of the auxiliary conveyor 74. In the position of the pusher plates 77 and 78 that is shown in the figure, objects being supplied by the supply conveyor 70 will be transferred to the discharge conveyor 72 by means of the auxiliary conveyor 74, whilst objects being supplied by means of the supply conveyor 71 will be delivered to the discharge conveyor 73 by means of the auxiliary conveyor 74. Objects being supplied by the supply conveyor 70 can be moved over the surface of the auxiliary conveyor 74 by means of the pusher plated 77 in such a manner that the auxiliary conveyor will discharge said objects to the discharge conveyor 73. Objects being supplied by means of the supply conveyor 71 can be moved over the surface of the auxiliary conveyor 74 by means of the pusher plate 78 in such a manner that the objects being supplied by the supply conveyor 71 will be discharged to the discharge conveyor 72 by the auxiliary conveyor 74. In the embodiment that is shown in Fig. 41, two auxiliary conveyors 74a and 74b are used instead of the single auxiliary conveyor 74, as in the embodiment that is shown in Fig. 39, and consequently the operation of this embodiment will require no further explanation. It can be noted, however, that in this embodiment the facing boundary edges of the auxiliary conveyors 74a and 74b are spaced some distance apart and that the space between the objects-carrying surfaces of the two auxiliary conveyors 74a and 74b is bridged by a guide plate 79. It is also possible to use rollers, for example, instead of a guide plate. In the embodiments of the conveyor according to the invention that are shown in Figs. 42 and 43, the arrangement of the supply conveyors, the discharge conveyors and the auxiliary conveyors largely corresponds to the embodiments shown in Figs. 38 and 40 and Figs. 39 and 41, respectively, and consequently parts shown in Figs. 42 and 43 that correspond to parts shown in the aforesaid Figs. 38-41 and discussed with reference thereto are indicated by the same numerals as used in said Figs. 38-41. The embodiment that is shown in Figs. 42 comprises two guide means 80 and 81, which are each made up of an endless belt 82 in the illustrated embodiment, which belt is passed over two pulleys 83 and 84 which are rotatable about vertical axes of rotation. Said guide means 80 and 81 are pivotable about pivots formed by the central axes of the pulleys 83, which are disposed near the opposed sides of the endless conveyor 74 and near the ends of the supply conveyors 70 and 71 that connect with said conveyor 74. The device furthermore comprises a further guide means 85, which is likewise made up of an endless belt 86 in this embodiment, which belt is passed over two pulleys 87 and 88, which are rotatable about vertical axes of rotation. The pulley 87 is disposed near the end of the auxiliary conveyor 74 that connects with the discharge conveyors 72 and

73, between the two discharge conveyors, whilst the guide means 85 extends from the pulley 87 in the direction of the supply conveyors 70 and 71 above the objects-carrying upper surface of the auxiliary conveyor 74, being pivotable about the central axis of said pulley 87. When the guide means 80 extends in the position that is shown in full lines in Fig. 42, the guide means 81 extends in the position that is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 42, and the guide means 85 likewise extend in the position that is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 42, parallel to the direction of transport of the conveyors, objects being supplied by the conveyor 70 will be delivered to the discharge conveyor 72 that is in line with the supply conveyor 70 via the auxiliary conveyor

74. Similarly, objects being supplied by the supply conveyor 71 will be delivered to the discharge conveyor 73 via the auxiliary conveyor 74. When the guide means 81 and 85 have been pivoted to the position that is shown in full lines in Fig. 42, however, in which the facing ends of said guide means 81 and 85 are positioned near each other, objects being supplied by the supply conveyor 71 will be moved over the surface of the auxiliary conveyor 74 by said guide means in the direction of the end of the discharge conveyor 72 that connects with the auxiliary conveyor 74, whilst objects being supplied by the supply conveyor 70 will be passed on recti linearly towards the discharge conveyor 72 by means of the auxiliary conveyor 74. When, on the other hand, the guide means 81 is held in the position that is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 42, the guide means 80 is pivoted to the position that is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 42 and the guide means 85 is pivoted to its upper position that is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 42, the objects being supplied by the supply conveyor 70 will be moved over the surface of the auxiliary conveyor 74 in the direction of the discharge conveyor 73 by means of the coaxial guide means 80 and 85, whilst objects being supplied by the supply conveyor 71 will be moved recti linearly by means of the auxiliary conveyor 74 to be delivered to the discharge conveyor 73. It will be appreciated without further explanation, also in the light of the description of the operation of the embodiments according to Figs. 39 and 41 as described above, that the operation of the conveyor that is shown in Fig. 43 is essentially the same as the operation of the conveyor that is shown in Figs. 42, the only difference being the fact that two auxiliary conveyors 74a and 74b disposed beside one another are used instead of the single auxiliary conveyor 74, as in the embodiments according to Figs. 39 and 41. The endless belts of the various guide means 80, 81 and 85 may or may not be positively driven.

Claims

1. A conveyor comprising at least two supply conveyors disposed above one another, as well as at least two discharge conveyor disposed above one another for discharging objects being supplied by the supply conveyors, with transfer means being provided between the discharge ends of the supply conveyors and the ends of the discharge conveyors that face towards the supply conveyors for transferring objects from the supply conveyors to the discharge conveyors, which transfer means comprise auxiliary conveyors which are pivotable about horizontal pivots, wherein, in a first position of said transfer means, the discharge end of the upper supply conveyor of the two supply conveyors disposed above one another is in communication, via the transfer means, with the upper discharge conveyor of the two discharge conveyors disposed above one another and the discharge end of the lower supply conveyor of the two supply conveyors disposed above one another is in communication, via the transfer means, with the lower discharge conveyor of the two discharge conveyors disposed above one another, whilst in a second position of the transfer means a discharge end of one supply conveyor of the two supply conveyors disposed above one another is in communication, via the transfer means, with the other discharge conveyor of the two discharge conveyors disposed above one another, whilst a compensation mechanism is provided for compensating the difference in the distance between a discharge end of a supply conveyor and the ends facing towards the supply conveyors of the two discharge conveyors disposed above one another that is to be bridged by the transfer means in said first position and said second position.

2. A conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that a compensating mechanism comprises a guide member that is pivotally connected to a free end of an auxiliary conveyor, which guide member can pivot from a position under the free end of the auxiliary conveyor to a position in which the guide member is in line with the auxiliary conveyor in question.

3. A conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that said compensating mechanism is disposed in such a manner that a free end of a pivotable auxiliary conveyor connects with the compensating mechanism in a second position of the transfer means.

4. A conveyor according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said guide member is formed by at least one roller.

5. A conveyor according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said guide member is formed by a belt conveyor.

6. A conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that a compensating mechanism is built up of means which make it possible to change the length of an auxiliary conveyor.

7. A conveyor according to claim 6, characterized in that the auxiliary conveyor comprises an endless belt which, at the free end of the auxiliary conveyor, is passed over a pulley that is movable in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary conveyor, whilst spring means are provided for tensioning the endless belt.

8. A conveyor according to claim 7, characterized in that said endless belt is passed over a pulley which is movable against the force of spring means.

9. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an auxiliary conveyor connects with the end of each supply conveyor, which auxiliary conveyor is pivotable with respect to the supply conveyor in question about a pivot located near the supply conveyor in question, whilst an auxiliary conveyor connects with the ends of each of the discharge conveyors that face towards the supply conveyors, which auxiliary conveyor is pivotable with respect to the discharge conveyor in question about a pivot located near the end of the discharge conveyor in question that faces towards the supply conveyors.

10. A conveyor according to claim 9, characterized in that the two auxiliary conveyors which, in a first position of the transfer means, connect the discharge end of a supply conveyor with the end of the discharge conveyor that faces towards the supply conveyor in question, are provided with a compensating mechanism.

11. A conveyor according to claim 9, characterized in that two auxiliary conveyors disposed above one another are each provided with a compensating mechanism.

12. A conveyor according to claim 9, characterized in that each of the auxiliary conveyors is provided with a compensating mechanism.

13. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims 1-8, characterized in that said transfer means comprise two auxiliary conveyors, which, in the first position of the transfer means, each extend between the two supply conveyors disposed above one another and the two discharge conveyors disposed above one another, each being pivotable about a horizontally extending pivot located near the discharge ends of the supply conveyors and about a horizontal pivot located near the ends of the discharge conveyors that face towards the supply conveyors.

14. A conveyor according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least two auxiliary conveyors, which, in a first position of the transfer means, connect the discharge end of a supply conveyor with the end of the discharge conveyor that faces towards the supply conveyor in question, are each built up of a number of conveying elements disposed beside one another, which conveying elements alternately extend a different distance from their ends located near the supply conveyor and near the discharge conveyor, respectively, in such a manner that the ends of the conveying elements are arranged in a stepped configuration at the free ends of the auxiliary conveyors, wherein the ends arranged in a stepped configuration of the conveying elements of one auxiliary conveyor engage between the ends arranged in a stepped configuration of the conveying elements of the other auxiliary conveyor.

15. A conveyor comprising at least two supply conveyors disposed beside one another as well as two discharge conveyors disposed beside one another for discharging objects being supplied by the supply conveyors, with transfer means being provided between the discharge ends of the supply conveyors and the ends of the discharge conveyors that face towards the supply conveyors for transferring objects from the supply conveyors to the discharge conveyors, which transfer means comprise at least one auxiliary conveyor as well as a moving mechanism for moving objects present on the upper surface of the auxiliary conveyor, all this in such a manner that, in use, an object coming from a discharge end of a supply conveyor is transferred to a first discharge conveyor of the two discharge conveyors via said at least one auxiliary conveyor without the moving mechanism being activated, and that said object is transferred to the other discharge conveyor of the two discharge conveyors when the moving mechanism is activated.

16. A conveyor according to claim 15, characterized in that a first auxiliary conveyor is provided between a first supply conveyor and a discharge conveyor that is at least substantially in line with said first supply conveyor, and that a second auxiliary conveyor is provided between a second supply conveyor and a second discharge conveyor that is at least substantially in line with said second supply conveyor.

17. A conveyor according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the moving mechanism comprises pusher means arranged in a row on either side of the auxiliary conveyor(s), wherein a desired number of the pusher means arranged on either side of the auxiliary conveyor(s) are movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary conveyor(s).

18. A conveyor according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that a plate-shaped pusher means is arranged near each of the opposing sides of the auxiliary conveyor(s), which pusher means is movable over the objects-carrying upper surface of the auxiliary conveyor(s) in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the auxiliary conveyor.

19. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims 15 or 16, characterized in that the moving mechanism comprises guide means which are pivotable about vertical pivots, which guide means are adjustable from a position in which they extend parallel to the direction of movement of the auxiliary conveyor(s) to a position above the objects- carrying surface of the auxiliary conveyor(s), in which they include an angle with the direction of movement of the auxiliary conveyor(s).

20. A conveyor according to claim 19, characterized in that two guide means are provided, which are each pivotable about a pivot located near the outer side of the auxiliary conveyor(s) and near the ends of the auxiliary conveyors that face towards the supply conveyors, between a position in which they extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary conveyor(s) and a position in which they extend at an angle over the auxiliary conveyor(s), whilst a further guide means is pivotable in one direction as well as in the other direction from a position in which it extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary conveyor(s), about a pivot located near the ends of the auxiliary conveyor(s) that face towards the discharge conveyors, between the discharge conveyors.

21. A conveyor according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that a guide means is made up of an endless belt which is passed over vertical pulleys.