GB1561586A - Automaticcounting machine - Google Patents

Description

(54) AUTOMATIC COUNTING MACHINE (71) I, HELMUT STAUFNER, a German citizen of Azte Schiffaurt 4, D7300 Esslingen-Mettingen, Western Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a machine for automatically counting flat articles.

Generally speaking, it has been previously customary to count flat articles such as books, notebooks, sheets of paper and the like by hand. This is, of course, a very expensive and time consuming process.

One form of machine for automatically counting flat articles is described and claimed in our copending application 26418/ 76 (Serial No. 1561585) from which the subject matter of the present application has been divided out.

According to the present invention there is provided a machine for separating, conveying and counting a plurality of flat bodies such as books, notebooks or sheets of paper comprising separating means for receiving a stack of flat bodies and for separating the body being removed from the body stacked on top of it to permit removal of said bodies one at a time from the bottom of said stack; conveying means having an end portion extending into and forming the bottom of said separating means for removing bodies from said stack by successively removing the bottom one of said bodies, said conveying means including means for establishing a driving connection between said bodes and said conveying means;; a stop element disposed above said end portion of said conveying means and having a portion extending parallel to the conveying direction of said conveying means and a portion extending transversely across said conveying means and spaced therefrom; a leaf spring extending through the space between said conveying means and said portion extending transversely for contacting bodies to be counted, means for counting said bodies as they are conveyed by said conveying means; and means for receiving counted bodies, In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention with certain portions removed for simplicity and Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the machine includes three belt conveyors 2, 3 and 4 which are mounted on a frame 1 of the machine, the upper surfaces of the belts of the three conveyors lying in substantially the same horizontal plane on reversing rolls in a conventional manner. The three belts are coupled to a drive motor 5 and are driven at different speeds, the speed of belt 4 being greater than 3 and the speed of belt 3 being greater than belt 2. As an example, the conveying speed of belt conveyor 3 can be about 1.6 times the speed of belt 2, and the speed of belt 4 can be about twice the speed of belt 2 which, for example, can be driven at the speed of about 0.8 meters per second. The intervals between adjacent ends of the belt conveyors are very small.The belts of the individual conveyors 2 through 4 can be tightened in a known manner for which purpose their reversing rollers, which are of substantially equal diameter, are disposed on the machine frame 1 so as to be adjustable in the direction of conveyance. The belts of thsee conveyors are selected to have a good "touch" to them, that is, the surfaces thereof provide good frictional engagement so as to establish a driving connection between the belts and the bodies which are being conveyed, substantially without slippage. As indicated in Figure 1, the belt conveyors convey articles in the direction of the arrow A. The connection between the con veycrs and drive motor 5 as schematically shown in Figures 1 and 2, includes drive belts or chains coupled to pulleys of preselected different sizes on the drive shaft of motor 5.

At the input end of belt conveyor 2 an angular retaining or stop element 6 is provided, element 6 having a right angle with a leg Of wall portion 7 being attached adjacent the side of belt conveyor 2 and disposed in a direction parallel to the direction of conveyance. A second leg 8 of stop member 6 extends transversely across the upper surface of belt conveyor 2. At the upper portion of leg 8 are four clamping elements 9 which are attached to leg 8 at substantially equal distances apart, element 9 being spaced from the inner surface of leg 8 by a spacer or spacers 10 at a point approximately at the middle of the height of leg 8. Clamping elements 9 thus curve inwardly from the top of leg 8 and then extend through a space 11 between the upper surface of conveyor 2 and leg 8 in the direction of conevyance.As seen in Figure 1, the lower portion of leg 8 is bent outwardly at its lower extremity in the direction of belt conveyor 3. The clamping elements 9 can be manufactured in the nature of leaf springs and are spaced apart so as to extend substantially across the full width of belt conveyor 2.

On the side of leg 8 facing away from spacer 10, there are three clamping elements 12 mounted in the spaces between elements 9, elements 12 being manufactured in a manner similar to elements 9. Elements 12 are also spaced apart so as to occupy a substantial portion of the width of the belt conveyor but extend along conveyors 2, 3 and 4. An eccentric roll 13 is mounted near the place of attachment of clamping elements 12 but spaced longitudinally from leg 8 and upwardly above the surface of conveyor belt 2. Roll 13 is rotatably and eccentrically mounted on supports attached to leg 8, roll 13 being disposed so as to extend across clamping elements 9 and 12.

Roll 13 can be rotatably adjusted by means of a manually operated lever 14 so as to adjust the tension applied to elements 12.

Lever 14 can be adjusted along a scale in various positions, and can be provided with a locking arrangement associated with the lever itself, the locking arrangement being of any conventional type which can be supported dn frame 1. Depending upon the rotational position of eccentric roll 13, the clamping elements 12 and to some degree, the elements 9 are pressed toward the belt conveyor 2 with a variable and adjustable pressure. It will be noted that a continuous web in the nature of an apron can be provided in place of the clamping elements 9 and 12, which aprdn can consist of a plastic or metal foil or a textile foil web.

Belt conveyors 2 to 4 can be covered up by a transparent plate spaced upwardly from the upper surface of the conveyor belt to prevent possible turning up of indiividual sheets of the bodies being conveyed.

On the end of the conveyor system opposite stop member 6, at the output end of conveyor belt 4, a stirrup 21 extends transversely across belt 4 upwardly spaced therefrom by a distance which significantly exceeds the thickness of the thickest article to be conveyed. Stirrup 21 supports one portion of an optical system forming a light barrier 22, the other portion of which can be supported on frame 1 below conveyor belt 4. This optical system is not disclosed in any detail, being a conventional light source and photocell detector wherein the light produced by the source is sensed by the detector so that any interruption of the beam passing therebetween produces an electrical pulse at the output of the detector.

In order to permit passage of the light beam from the source to the detector, conveyor belt 4 is made in two parts which are laterally spaced, thereby forming a longitudinal gap between the belt portions to permit passage of the ray of light. Pulses produced by the optical system are counted by a conventional counter 23 which can be mounted in the vicinity of stop element 6. The counter can include a continuous counting mechanism 24 and an adjustable counter mechanism 25 to accumulate a count of the number of articles and to compare that count with a predetermined number, if desired. It will be recognized that, in place of the optical system, a microswitch or similar feeler capable of detecting the passage of articles can be provided.

A receiving arrangement 26 is provided at the output end of belt conveyor 4, apparatus 26 including a belt conveyor 27 which has substantially the same direction of conveyance as do conveyors 2-4 and which is disposed at an angle to the horizontal, rising in the direction of conveyance. Conveyor 27 has the same kind of conveyor belt as conveyors 2-4 and can be tensioned in the same manner. Conveyor 27 is shown being driven by driving motor 5. However, a separate driving motor can also be provided for its operation. The inclination of conveyor 27 can be adjusted for which purpose a hinge joint 28 disposed between the frame of conveyor 27 and the machine frame 1 is provided. The conveying speed of conveyor 27 amdunts to about 0.4 of the con veying speed of conveyor 2.

Above belt conveyor 27 are clamping elements 29 which are similar in nature to clamping elements 9 and 12. Elements 29 are attached to an upwardly extending support at the end of conveyor 4 and extend, at intervals, across conveyor 27 and curve downwardly and outwardly away from the suppOrt point, resting on conveyor 27 only in the vicinity of its upper end. While conveyors 2-4 are disposed in the same plane, a vertical separation exists between the output end of conveyor 4 and the input end of conveyor 27.

A stop rail 31 is provided along the side of belt conveyors 2-4 which can be of a discontinuous or continuous nature. In order to hold the bodies which are being conveyed along conveyors 2-4 against stop rail 31, the belt conveyors 2-4 can be inclined in such a way that the side having stop rail 31 is at a lower level than the opposite side of the belt conveyors, thus permitting gravity to cause the articles to rest against the stop rail as they move along.

Alternatively, or in addition to this inclination, a leaf spring operating in a lateral direction can be disposed along the upper surfaces d conveyors 2-4 to urge articles towards stop rail 31. It is also possible to provide a reading device along stop rail 31 which responds to a predetermined code imprinted or otherwise provided on the bodies which are to be counted. The reading device, operating in conjunction with counter 23, can be connected to an installation for electronic data processing.

In use, a stack of books, notebooks or other flat articles which are to be counted is placed upon the input end of belt conveyor 2 within the area defined by stop element 6. The eccentric roll 13 is adjusted so that only one of the notebooks or books at a time is conveyed by belt conveyor 2.

As a result of the differing speeds of conveyors 2-4, a distance is established between the individual books to be counted such that the light barrier or other counting device unequivocally and unambiguously responds to each body and the number of books is therefore counted in counter 23.

The articles coming from conveyor 4 are dumped onto conveyor 27 and are there arranged in an overlapping arrangement in the manner of scales. The articles thus arranged can be taken manually from the belt conveyor 27 or they can be transported therefrom to a following belt conveyor, not shown. It will be recognized that a roller conveyor can also be employed.

If the elapse of a time interval is desired, after counting a predetermined number of flat articles so as to displace that number from the next succeeding articles, then that predetermined number is preset into counter 23. As soon as this number is reached, conveyors 2-4 are stopped for that interval determined by a conventional timer, thereby permitting the establishment of a distance between groups of counted articles in the ouput or receiving equipment. In this event, it will clearly be desirable to provide a different motor driving conveyor 27 from that driving conveyors 2 to 4.

Whenever books ore other flat articles of different thicknesses are to be counted, then the eccentric roll 14 is adjusted correspondingly. It is also possible to count books, notebooks and the like of various formats with the help of this machine.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A machine for separating, conveying and counting a plurality of flat bodies such as books, notebooks or sheets of paper comprising separating means for receiving a stack of flat bodies and for separating the body being removed from the body stacked on top of it to permit removal of said bodies one at a time from the bottom of said stack; conveying means having an end portion extending into and forming the bottom of said separating means for removing bodies from said stack by successively removing the bottom one of said bodies, said conveying means including means for establishing a driving connection between said bodies and said conveying means; ; a stop element disposed above said end portion of said conveying means and having a portion extending parallel to the conveying direction of said conveying means and a portion extending transversely across said conveying means and spaced therefrom; a leaf spring extending through the space between said conveying means and said portion extending transversely for contacting bodies to be counted, means for counting said bodies as they are conveyor by said conveying means; and means for receiving counted bodies.

2. A machine according to Claim 1, wherein said conveyor means and said leaf spring extend in the direction of conveyance beyond the stop element and further comprising means for adjusting the force exerted by the leaf spring on the bodies to be counted.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. veying speed of conveyor 2. Above belt conveyor 27 are clamping elements 29 which are similar in nature to clamping elements 9 and 12. Elements 29 are attached to an upwardly extending support at the end of conveyor 4 and extend, at intervals, across conveyor 27 and curve downwardly and outwardly away from the suppOrt point, resting on conveyor 27 only in the vicinity of its upper end. While conveyors 2-4 are disposed in the same plane, a vertical separation exists between the output end of conveyor 4 and the input end of conveyor 27. A stop rail 31 is provided along the side of belt conveyors 2-4 which can be of a discontinuous or continuous nature. In order to hold the bodies which are being conveyed along conveyors 2-4 against stop rail 31, the belt conveyors 2-4 can be inclined in such a way that the side having stop rail 31 is at a lower level than the opposite side of the belt conveyors, thus permitting gravity to cause the articles to rest against the stop rail as they move along. Alternatively, or in addition to this inclination, a leaf spring operating in a lateral direction can be disposed along the upper surfaces d conveyors 2-4 to urge articles towards stop rail 31. It is also possible to provide a reading device along stop rail 31 which responds to a predetermined code imprinted or otherwise provided on the bodies which are to be counted. The reading device, operating in conjunction with counter 23, can be connected to an installation for electronic data processing. In use, a stack of books, notebooks or other flat articles which are to be counted is placed upon the input end of belt conveyor 2 within the area defined by stop element 6. The eccentric roll 13 is adjusted so that only one of the notebooks or books at a time is conveyed by belt conveyor 2. As a result of the differing speeds of conveyors 2-4, a distance is established between the individual books to be counted such that the light barrier or other counting device unequivocally and unambiguously responds to each body and the number of books is therefore counted in counter 23. The articles coming from conveyor 4 are dumped onto conveyor 27 and are there arranged in an overlapping arrangement in the manner of scales. The articles thus arranged can be taken manually from the belt conveyor 27 or they can be transported therefrom to a following belt conveyor, not shown. It will be recognized that a roller conveyor can also be employed. If the elapse of a time interval is desired, after counting a predetermined number of flat articles so as to displace that number from the next succeeding articles, then that predetermined number is preset into counter 23. As soon as this number is reached, conveyors 2-4 are stopped for that interval determined by a conventional timer, thereby permitting the establishment of a distance between groups of counted articles in the ouput or receiving equipment. In this event, it will clearly be desirable to provide a different motor driving conveyor 27 from that driving conveyors 2 to 4. Whenever books ore other flat articles of different thicknesses are to be counted, then the eccentric roll 14 is adjusted correspondingly. It is also possible to count books, notebooks and the like of various formats with the help of this machine. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A machine for separating, conveying and counting a plurality of flat bodies such as books, notebooks or sheets of paper comprising separating means for receiving a stack of flat bodies and for separating the body being removed from the body stacked on top of it to permit removal of said bodies one at a time from the bottom of said stack; conveying means having an end portion extending into and forming the bottom of said separating means for removing bodies from said stack by successively removing the bottom one of said bodies, said conveying means including means for establishing a driving connection between said bodies and said conveying means;; a stop element disposed above said end portion of said conveying means and having a portion extending parallel to the conveying direction of said conveying means and a portion extending transversely across said conveying means and spaced therefrom; a leaf spring extending through the space between said conveying means and said portion extending transversely for contacting bodies to be counted, means for counting said bodies as they are conveyor by said conveying means; and means for receiving counted bodies.

2. A machine according to Claim 1, wherein said conveyor means and said leaf spring extend in the direction of conveyance beyond the stop element and further comprising means for adjusting the force exerted by the leaf spring on the bodies to be counted.

3. A machine according to Claim 2,

wherein said means for adjusting includes an adjustable eccentric contacting said leaf spring.

4. A machine according to Claim 3, wherein said means for adjusting includes a hand-operated lever for rotating said eccentric, said lever being fixable in a plurality of positions.

5. A machine according to any preceding claim, wherein said conveying means in cludes a plurality of belt conveyors con nected in succession, and means for driving each successive belt conveyor in the direction of conveyance faster than the preceding belt conveyor.

6. A machine for separating, conveying and counting a plurality of flat bodies sub stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.