US2105922A - Conveyer - Google Patents

Description

E. H. MALTBY Jan. 18, 1938.

CONVEYER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1934 15rd floor Edward HMQZ@ E. H. MALTBY Jan. 18, 1938.

CONVEYER Filed NOV. 26, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 18, 1938. E. H. MALTBY 2,105,922

CONVEYER Filed Nov. 26, I934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 18, 1938.

E. H. MALTBY CONVEYER Filed Nov. 26, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 18, 1938 CONVEYER Edward H. Maltby, White Bear Lake, Minn assignor to Standard Conveyor Company, a corporation of Minnesota.

Application November 26, 1934, Serial No. 754,721

14 Claims. (Cl. 193-36) In connection with spiral conveyors having a plurality of vertically spaced convolutions, it is frequently desirable to take off or divert the loads or feed them to the main conveyer at one or more points intermediate the ends of the main conveyer. The switch devices heretofore provided have been cumbersome, relatively diflicult to operate and have occupied such space that they are unsuited for use with a spiral conveyer where the movable guide rails and actuating mechanism;

Fig. is a side elevation illustrating the switch in detail with the supporting and guiding mechanism for the several rollers;

Fig. 6 is an isometric-bottom view illustrating a pair of the roller assemblies and their guiding arms;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the rollers and the available space is small, as in cases where arm, as seen from the top; 10 the pitch or vertical spacing of the convolutions Fig. 8 is a plan view showing my improved is of relatively small size. switch in connection with a straight main con- It is an object of the present invention to proveyer and a pair of branch or intersecting convide a compact, smoothly operating section of veyers;

5 a spiral conveyer which may be quickly and Fig. 9 is a plan View of a supporting plate for 5' easily moved laterally to switch loads to or from the switch rollers;

a branch conveyer, chute or place of deposit Fig. 10 is a plan view of one of the frame memfor the load. bars with perforations for the roller guide pivots,

A particular object is to provide a novel secand tion of rollers adapted to constitute a part of a 11 s a Central Vertical Section thIOIIgh One 2 0 spiral or curved conveyer and having individual of the ball casters for suppor the ro rollers which are relatively movable to extend Referring to the numeral l2 indieetes at various angles to each other. I the spiral conveyer down which the loads, usu'- Another object of the invention is to provide ally in the f rm of pa ka es r th r containers novel and efficient supporting and guiding means of goods, may he Carried ro e t d floor I3 25' for individually movable rollers in a switch of the t0 e fi fl e Of y p v c e type in which said rollers are adapted to extend l5 ms a p t Of the main c ey d is radially to a curve or in parallel relation to each adap in O e position to d ve t e leads to a other to form a straight section, branch conveyer ll located at a second floor I6.

A further object is to provide a switch having In the Construction Of the Switch shown 30 individually movable rollers at th junction of in detail in Figs. 2 to 11 inclusive, a smooth metal intersecting conveyers and novel mechanism for plate o Size and Shape Suitable to pp a guiding the loads along said rollers to either of Series Of conveyer indicated by e the intersecting conveyers. merals l9 to 26 respectively, is mounted on a Other objects are to facilitate the movement Suitable ra e to extend u t a y OI O 5 of such a switch and render it more durable by telly at e Slight ihelihe- Extending p ra providing antifriction supports for the rollers and t0 and beneath each of the e e 9 t0 6 iS a a novel arrangement of pivoted and interconrigid bar 27 carrying 011 its ends up nected arms adapted to coordinate the movement flanged members Which pp the axial of the individual rollers and retain them at all hafts or tuds 29 upon which the are 40 times approximately radially to the curve formed P m manner Well known n thls by the Switch Rig dly secured to each end of each of the bars Referring to the accompanying drawings which a an angle Chp avmg downwafrdly illustrate the best form of my device at'present Jectmg flange 30 whlch .oveflapsland 1S secltred known to 1 to a flange 3| on a foot piece 32. Each foot plece Figure 1 a diagrammatic muymtion of a 32 has mounted on its bottom. a ball caster 33, typical Spiral conveyer with my immjmfed takpofi preferably constructed as illustrated in Fig. 11, v to reduce friction to a minimum. The caster or Switch a portion of the being broken illustrated has a relatively large spherical memy to P 1 clearly w the sW1tch; ber 34 confined by a casing which is flanged in- 50 7 2 1S perspecPve of the c mam ward to retain the said member. A multiplicity splr a1 conveyer and omnch conveyer; of relatively small balls 35 are revolubly mounted 3 is at 101811 View Of the Switch and adjacent between the upper surface of the member 34 and portions of the Spiral and branch eehveyers; a concavely spherical seat 36. It will be under- 4 is e Side v ion particula y S owing stood that the contacting surfaces of the mem- 55 hers 34, 35 and 35 are hard and durable and that the member 34 is free to rotate in all directions in use.

To guide the several rollers l9 to 26 in different arcs on the plate I8, I provide arms 31, 38, 39, 40, 4|, 42, 43 and 44 extending in overlapping relation to each other and movable in planes substantially parallel to the plate 48. Projecting downward from one end of the arm 31 is a pivotal support 45 having a reduced stud or pin 46 fitting in a perforation 41 in the plate i8 and in a perforation 48 in a plate 49 extending parallel to the plate l8 (see Figs. 5, 9 and 10). The arm 3'! is rigidly secured to the bottom of the bar 21 supporting the roller [9 and extends-at right angles to said bar. The arms 38 to 44 are progressively longer than the arm 3'! and each has a pivotal support similar to the support 45 and is connected to one of the roller supports 21 so as to guide the several rollers in arcs having radii of different lengths and with centers spaced longitudinally of the conveyer. Thus the roller 26 is guided by the arm 44 of greatestlength and this arm has'a pivotal support 50 of the smallest dimension vertically and "having bearings in a perforation 51' (Fig. 9) in the plate 18 and a perforation 52 in the plate 49 (Fig. 10). Similar perforations in the plates l8 and 49 afford :bearings for "the pivotal supports .forthe arms 38 to 43 inclusive, the several pivotal axes being in a common vertical plane. vAs clearly shown .iin Fig.-5,-the flanges 3G and 3| forthe several rollers are of various heights and .overlapsulficiently to give the desired slope to the rollers and to compensate for the thickness-oflthe arms 31 to '43 inclusive.

Each of the arms 31 to 43.inclusive is provided near its free end with a downwardly projecting stud 53 engaging in a slot 54 formed in the immediately subjacent arm. The slots 54are elongated longitudinally of the :arms to permit movement of .the several rollersin the required arcs.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4,1 provide- guide rails 55 and 56 having a common pivotal support 51 mounted near the junction of the branch conveyer I1 with the main conveyer l2. The rail 55 is curved to con'iormto the curve of the outer side of the spiral and the rail 56 is substantially straight to guide the loads from'the spiral in a straight line along the switch section when the latter is actuatedto connect with the branch conveyer I1. "The rails 55 and 56 are rigidly con nected together to swing above the switch section and are rigidly secured to the pivotal support '51 which has bearings in the plates 18 and 49 at its lower end and a bearing-58 supported on anangle bar 59 projecting above the conveyer. An oblique brace member 66 connects the upper end of the pivotal support '5'! to the rails 55 and 56 at a point removed from the pivot. To facilitate actuating these rails from one operativeposition to'the other, a lever 6| is'fixed on the upper end of the pivotal support 51 and is arranged tobe actuated by a flexible cable 62. This cable may be trained over guide pulleys, as in Fig. 1, where theswitch section is located at such elevation that its upper surface is inaccessible to the operator.

To coactwith the movable guide rails 55 and 56, stationary guide rails 63 and-64 are provided, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, these rails being supported in obvious'manner on the plate l8 and at such an elevation above the tops of the rollers as to permit the passage of the movable guide rails above. A stop 55a is provided for the free end of the rail 55 and a similar stop 56a for the rail 56. To frictionally retain the section of the rollers in operative positions, small lugs 65 are mounted on or formed in the plate [8 and are so located that a pair of said lugs are adapted to receive the ball casters supporting the roller 26 between them in each operative position of the switch. Thus one pair of the lugs 65 frictionally retains the switch in its curved position and another pair retains the switch in its straight position against accidental movement. These lugs .65 project only slightly from the face of the plate l8 so as to permit the ball casters to pass over them with the desired ease when the switch is operated.

Another typical use of my invention is shown in Fig. '8 wherein a main, straight conveyer is indicated by the numeral 66 and two branch conveyersby the numerals 61 and 68 respectively. In this arrangement, the supporting plate :69 .for the'movable section [5 of rollers is substantially hexagonal in plan and said switch section of rollers maybemoved from the straight position illustrated to such curved positions as to connect with and deliver loads to .orfrom (depending on the direction of .the slope) either of the branch conveyers 61 and 68.

Operation the load along the main conveyer is now guided 5 by the :side'rails, including the stationary rail '53 and movable rail 55. When it is desired to take off or divert loads from the main conveyer to the branch conveyer H, the free end of the switch section is moved laterally of the curve to a new position in alignment with the branch conveyer and each of the individually supported rollers l9 to 26 moves on its own are and radius to the new position in which the rollers, instead of being radial in a curve, are disposed in parallel relation to each other. To guide the loads to the branch conveyer over the switch, the lever 6| is actuated to swing the guide rails 55 and 56 to such position that the latter rail is disposed in continuation of the side rail of the conveyerll and in parallel, spaced relation to the stationary rail 64.

It will be evident from Fig. 3 that the center lines of the arms 31 to 44 inclusive are all tangential to the-center line of the curve formed by the rollers H! to 26 and said arms may be, within the spirit of this invention, so located as to be substantially tangentialto any of a number of arcs having a common center with the conveyer curve. I

Movement of the switch section from one position .to the other is accomplished with ease and with a minimum of wear by reason of my arrangement of the anti-friction supports for the individual rollers and the positive guide for each roller afforded by the arms 3'! to '44 inclusive with their freely turning pivots. The connectionsbetween the rollers including the studs 53 engaging in the slots '54 insure the retention of each roller in its proper, substantially radial, relation to the curve formed by the entire group. The entire structure is so compact that it is peculiarly adapted for use in a spiral conveyer where the clearance between convolutions is small and where the bodil substitution of a diverter section for a section of the main conveyer would be impossible or impractical. It will be understood, however, that my invention is not limited in its use to a spiral conveyer but is adapted for use wherever a movable roller switch is required or desirable.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a spiral conveyer having a plurality of vertically spaced convolutions, of a switch comprising, a section of individually and laterally movable rollers for supporting loads, connected together for movement in unison and adapted to form a part of said spiral conveyer in one position and in another position to form a branch conveyer, a supporting plate extending beneath all of said rollers and means for supporting said rollers independently of each other on said plate, said independent supports and plate being formed to maintain the axes of said rollers substantially horizontal in both of said positions.

2. In a device of the class described, a main conveyer, a branch conveyer arranged to intersect said main conveyer and an articulated section of said main conveyer movable to connect said main conveyer to said branch conveyer comprising, a substantially horizontal, supporting plate, a series of rollers, pairs of legs spacing said rollers at progressively decreasing heights from said plate down the conveyer, said rollers and legs being movable laterally across and parallel to said plate, a series of radius arms severally connected to said rollers respectively for guiding them upon said plate and means connecting said rollers together for movement in unison.

3. In a device of the class described, a main conveyer, a branch conveyer arranged to intersect said main conveyer and an articulated section of said main conveyer movable to connect said main conveyer to said branch conveyer comprising, a supporting plate, a series of rollers, means supporting said rollers for relative movement upon said plate, a series of radius arms, each rigidly connected to one of said rollers at one end and extending at right angles thereto and pivotally supported at the other end on said plate and means projecting from each of said arms to slidably engage the adjacent arms whereby said arms are joined together for move ment in unison.

l. In a device of the class described, a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyers arranged to connect with said main conveyer and an articulated section of said main conveyer movable to connect said main conveyer with either of said branch conveyers comprising, a supporting plate, a series of rollers, means supporting said rollers for relative movement on said plate, a series of radius arms, each rigidly connected to the supporting means for one of said rollers at one end and having a fixed pivot near its other end to swing substantially parallel to said plate and means operatively connecting said arms together for movement in unison.

5. A roller conveyer section comprising, a series of rollers, a radius arm secured to each of said rollers near one end and having a fixed pivot near the other end, said radius arms being relatively movable in arcs about the axes of their pivots and means connectingsaid radius arms together for movement in unison, said rollers being movable from positions in spaced, substantially parallel relation to eachother to posi tions forming a curve with the rollers extending substantially radially to each other.

6. A roller conveyer section comprising, a series of rollers, radius arms of progressively increasing lengths severally connected to the successive rollers of said section and pivotally supported independently of each other, said radius arms extending longitudinally of the conveyer and having pivot centers spaced apart along the conveyer, said rollers being movable under the guidance of said arms in arcs having different radii.

'7. In a device of the class described, a plurality of rollers, a supporting member extending longitudinally of each roller, anti-friction casters for supporting each of said members, a plate affording a guiding and supporting surface for said casters and radius arms severally connected to said roller-supporting members respectively and pivoted to swing in substantially parallel relation to said plate, the several pivotal axes for said arms being spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyer and said arms being of unequal length and progressively longer from one end of the group of rollers to the other.

8. In a device of the class described, a plurality of rollers, a supporting member extending longitudinally of each roller, anti-friction casters for supporting each of said members, a plate affording a guiding and supporting surface for said casters, radius arms severally connected near one end to said roller-supporting members respectively and severally having fixed pivots near their other ends to guide the several rollers in difierent arcs upon said plate, the several pivotal axes for said arms being spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyer and means connecting each of said arms to the adjacent arms for movement in unison. I

9. In a device of the class described, a plurality of rollers, a supporting member extending longitudinally of each roller, anti-friction casters for supporting each of said members, a plate affording a guiding and supporting surface for said casters, radius arms severally connected to said roller-supporting members respectively, extending substantially at right angles thereto, and pivoted to guide the several rollers in different arcs upon said plate, said arms being of unequal length and progressively longer from one end of the group of rollers to the other and means connecting each of said arms to the adjacent arm.

10. In a spiral conveyer, a section of rollers severally adapted to extend radially as a spiral portion of said conveyer, fixed means extending beneath and at one side of said spiral portion of the conveyer for guiding and supporting the individual rollers of said section for movement laterally from said spiral, pairs of legs spacing the individual rollers of said section in parallel relation to said guiding and supporting member above the same and at progressively'decreasing heights therefrom down the conveyer, said legs being movable upon the top of said fixed guiding and supporting means and means connecting said rollers together for lateral movement to divert loads from said conveyer.

11. In a spiral conveyer, a section of rollers severally adapted to extend radially as a portion of said conveyer, aplane, horizontal plate for supporting the individual rollers of said section for movement laterally from said spiral, pairs of legs spacing the individual rollers of said section in parallel relation to said plate and at progressively decreasing heights therefrom down the conveyer, said legs being movable upon and across the :top surface vof said plate and means connecting said rollers together for lateral movement to divert loads from said conveyer.

12. In a spiral conveyer, a section of rollers severally adapted to extend radially as a spiral portion of said conveyer, fixed means extending beneath and at one side of said spiral portion of the conveyor for guiding and supporting the individual rollers of said section for movement laterally from said spiral, pairs of legs spacing the individual rollers of said section in parallel relation above said guiding and supporting means and at progressively decreasing heights therefrom down the conveyer and arms severally connecting said rollers together and to said guiding and supporting means, said arms permitting lateral movement of the rollers of said section to divert loads from said conveyor.

13. A roller conveyer switch comprising, a series of load supporting rollers, individual and separate supports for said rollers respectively, an arm secured to each of said supports, a fixed pivot for each of said arms, said arms being relatively movable to different angular positions severally about the axes of their pivots and means connecting the several arms together for movement in unison, said rollers being relatively movable, each under the guidance of one of said arms to form different curves.

14. A roller c onveyer section comprising, a series of relatively movable, load supporting rollers and arms of progressively increasing lengths severally connected to the successive rollers of said section and each having a fixed pivot near a fixed end of the section, each of said rollers being movable under the guidance of one of said arms 4

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