US2559319A - Vertically movable turntable transfer - Google Patents

Description

D. C. ROBSON VERTICALLY MOVABLE TURNTABLE TRANSFER July 3, 1951 Filed Feb. 26, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 R W T S N B Y E E v N R R 1 o c n D. A V Y B 5 6 2 l 1m 3 6 -.IF 1| HH 4 0 8 mm I .xg 0 2 .m a. 56 mm m INVENTOR 51:53 3 1951 D. c. ROBSON 2,559,319

VERTICALLY MOVABLE TURNTABLE TRANSFER File c1 Feb. 26, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FEQ. 10 s QIIOIIH mini: tnulmf' rL D. C. RoBsoN ATTORNEY July 3, 1951 D. c. ROBSON VERTICALLY MOVABLE TURNTABLE TRANSFER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 26, 1946 ,4 I I I; 42/

INVEN-TOR D. C. Reason BY ATTORNEY July 3, 1951 D. c. ROBSON 2,559,319

VERTICALLY MOVABLE TURNTABLE TRANSFER Filed Feb. 26, 1946 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fl 6 8 HOIST CONTROL CIRCUIT ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1951 VERTICALLY MOVABLE TURNTABLE TRANSFER Duer C. Robson, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 26, 1946, Serial No. 650,37 6

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to vertically movable turntable transfers and more particularly to such turntable transfers for conveying supplies to machines.

In the operation of some machines using large quantities of raw materials, conveyers are sometimes used to carry receptacles of such materials to the machines. If such a conveyer is positioned at a level different from that at which an opening in a hopper of the machine is located, the-materials must be moved to the opening in the hopper. This requires a great deal of heavy lifting.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved vertically movable turntable transfers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for raising a receptacle carrying containers of material from the level of a conveyer to a position above a hopper, for turning the receptacle horizontally as it is raised and for tilting the receptacle over on its side at a point above the hopper so that the containers may be emptied into the hopper without raising them manually.

One apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention may comprise a conveyer section positioned at one level and a second conveyer section mounted on a hoist normally in alignment with the first-mentioned conveyer section. The second conveyer section is mounted on a turntable carried by the hoist, and means are provided for rotating the turntable as the hoist is elevated to a different level.

In one embodiment of the invention, there are provided a main conveyer for conveying rectangular pans to and from a point near a hopper of a machine and a hoist for raising the pans from the conveyer to a tilter, which turns the pans over on their sides so that their contents may be easily emptied into the hopper. The hoist includes a roller conveyer section normally in alignment with the main conveyer and mounted on a turntable of the hoist, and the tilter has a roller conveyer section which is disposed above at right angles to the roller conveyer section of the hoist. While the roller conveyer section of the hoist is raised from the level of the main conveyer to the level of the tilter, lost motion means turns the roller conveyer section of the hoist into alignment with the roller conveyer section of the tilter so that the pan may be rolled onto the tilter. The tilter then may be driven to turn the pan over on its side at a point convenient to the hopper so that the contents of the pan may be easily emptied into the hopper.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of a conveyer forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a conveyer forming one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken alongline 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 66 of Fig. 2 I

Fig. '7 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line l1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a portion of circuit included in the conveyer;

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of a portion of the circuit, and

Fig. 10 is a schematic view of a portion of the circuit.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is provided a delivery gravity conveyer section 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) and a return gravity conveyer section 2|. A slanting roller conveyer section 22 of a hoist 23 bridges the gap between the delivery conveyer section and the return conveyer section and includes a depressible stop 24, which stops an elongated pan 25 containing packages of material on the roll-er conveyer section 22, which pan After the pan 25 is positioned on the conveyer section 22 of the hoist 23, an operator moves a spring-pressed contactor 30 (Fig. '8) of an up switch 3| out of engagement with contacts 32 and 33 of the switch and into engagement with contacts 34 and 35 thereof. This connects conductors 40 and 4| of a three-phase powerline 42 (Fig. 10) through the following circuit: a conductor 43 (Fig. 8), a normally closed safety stop switch 44, conductors 45 and 46, 9. limit switch 52, which is closed at this time, conductors 53 and 54, the contact 34, the contactor 3D and the contact 35 of the up switch 3|, conductors 55 and 56, a contact 60, a spring-pressed contactor 6| normally in engagement with the contact and a contact 62 of a down switch 63, a conductor 64, a winding 65 of an up relay 66 and conductors 10 and II. This energizes the winding 65 of the up relay 66, which lcloses up switches 'l212 (Fig. 9) of the up relay so that a three-phase reversible hoist motor 73 is driven in a predetermined direction. The energization of the winding 65 (Fig,

the delivery conveyer section delivers to the hoist 8) also closes a holding switch '14 of the relay 66. The holding switch '14 is connected in parallel with the contacts 34 and 35 of the up switch 31 by conductors '15 and '16 so that the contactor 30 of the up switch 31 may be released to move out of engagement with the contacts 34 and 35 of the up switch and back into engagement with the contacts 32 and 33 without interrupting the energization of the hoist motor '13 (Fig. 8)

When the hoist motor '13 is caused to run in the above-mentioned direction by moving the contactor 30 of the up switch 31 into engagement with the contacts 34 and 35 thereof, the hoist motor, which is mounted, on a stationary frame 80 (Figs. 2 and 6), raises a cable 8| fastened at its lower end to a movable hoist frame 82. This raises the hoist frame, which is provided with vertical guides 83-83 of T-shaped cross-sections fitting into vertical guideways 04-84. As the hoist frame 82 is raised, a cam 85 carried thereby moves out of engagement with a normally closed limit switch 90' and the limit switch 90 closes. This does not affect the operation of the hoist motor. '13 at this time but sets up the hoist control circuit (Fig.8) so that the hoist motor 13 may be reversed to lower the hoist frame 82 as will be'described hereinafter.

A turntable base 91 (Figs. 4 and is mounted slidably by rollers 92-32 on tracks 93-93 of the hoist frame 82 and includes a bearing. 94 supported in the center thereof by channels 95-95. A circular turntable platform 100 is supported on rollers 101-101 resting on a circular track 102 fastened to the turntable base 91 by angle irons 103-103. An angle iron 104 and a spacer bar 105 parallel thereto are fastened rigidly to the top of the turntable platform. The angle iron 1'04 and an angle iron I06 fastened rigidly to the spacer bar are fastened rigidly to and mount the roller conveyer section 22 on the turntable platform.

A shaft, 110 mounted rotatably in the bearing 94 is fastened rigidly to the turntable platform 100 in the center thereof by a block 111 and angle-irons 112-112. A pinion 113 keyed to the lower e' d of the shaft meshes with a stationary rack 114 mounted on the hoist frame 82 by an angle iron 115. Links 120-120 connect one side of the turntable base 91 to one end of each of bell crank levers 121-121 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6), which are pivotally mounted on plates 122-122 secured to the outsides of theguide tracks 33-93..

Rods 123-123 secured pivotally to the ends of the bell crank levers opposite to the ends thereof to which the links 120-120 are secured are mounted slidably and pivotally in loose-fitting bores, of which a loose-fitting bore 124 is shown, formed in stationary stops 125-125 mounted on supports 126-126. Stop collars 130-130 are fastened rigidly to the rods 123-123 at points above the stops 125-125, and stop collars 131- 131 are fastened rigidly to the bottom of the rods 123-123.

After the hoist motor '13 raises the elevator frame 82 and the turntable base 91 somewhat with respect to a tilter 133, the stop collars 131- 131 (Figs. 2 and 6) strike the stops 125-125, which limit further upward movement of the rods 123-123. As the hoist frame 82 continues to rise and raises the bell crank levers 121-121, the bell crank levers are turned in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, by the rods 123-123. This turning of the bell crank levers moves the turntable base 91 through the links 120-120 along the tracks 93-93 to the left away from the turner 133, and the pinion 113 is moved along the stationary rack 1 14. This turns the pinion which turns the conveyer section 22 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, through the shaft (Fig. 5) and the turntable platform 100, whose rollers 101-101 roll along the circular track 102.

By the time the conveyer section 22 is raised tothe level of a roller conveyer section 134 (Fig. 2) of the tilter 133, the conveyer section 22 of the hoist 23 has been turned 90 from its full-line position shown in Fig. 1 to its broken-line position, in which broken-line position the conveyer sect-ion 22 is aligned with the conveyer section 13 2. At this point a cam 138 (Fig. 6) strikes and opens the limit switch 52 so that the hoist motor 13' is deen'ergized, and the hoist motor holds the hoist frame and the elements carried thereby in their elevated positions.

The depressible stop 24 (Fig. 1) then is depressed and the elongated pan 25 rolls from the conveyer section 22 of the hoist 23 onto the conveyer section 134' of the tilter 133. The conveyer section 134 is supported by arcuate end frames 135 and 136, and the arcuate end frame 136 has an opening 131' (Fig. 7) formed therein to permit the pan 25 to be rolled onto and off of the roller conveyer section 134. Arcuate flanges -140 of the arcuate end frames 135 and 135 are supported between rollers 141-141 positioned in arcuate paths by supporting plates 142-142. Thrust rollers 143-143 mounted on brackets 144-144 prevent lateral movement of the arcuate end frames 135 and 136'. A sprocket 145 (Fig. l) fastened rigidly to and concentrically with respect to the arcuate end frame 135 may be rotated by a chain. (Fig. 2) when the chain is driven by a three-phase reversible tilter motor 151.

After the elongated pan 25 is positioned on the conveyer section 134 of the tilter 133, the operator moves a spring-pressed contactor 152 (Fig. 8) of a delivery switch 153 out of engagement with contacts 154 and 155 and into engagement with contacts and 161. This connects the conductors 40 and 41 through the following circuit: a conductor 162, a safety stop switch 1133, conductors I64 and 165, a normally closed limit switch 1'10, conductors 111 and 1'12, the contact 150, the contactor 152 and the contact 151 of the switch 153, conductors 1'13 and 1'14, a springpressed contact 1'15 of a reversing switch 1'15, a contactor 1'1'1 thereof, a contact 1'18 thereof, a conductor 1'19, a winding of a delivery relay 181,. and conductors 182 and 183. This energizes the winding 180 of the delivery relay 181, which closes delivery switches 184-184 (Fig. 10) of the relay 181 and a holding switch 185 (Fig. 8) connected in parallel with the contacts 153 and 161 of the switch 153 by conductors 185 and 187. The closing of the delivery switches 184-184 (Fig. 10) of the relay 181 causes the tilter motor 151 to be driven in such a direction that it turns the sprocket 1 45 (Figs. 1 and 2), the arcuate end frames 135 and 135, the conveyer section 135 and the elongated pan 25 thereon in clockwise directions, as viewed in Fig. 2. The delivery switch 153 (Fig. 8) may then be released without affecting the operation of the tilter motor 151 because the holding switch 185 in parallel with the contacts 160 and 161 of the switch 153 is closed.

Shortly after the motor 151 (Fig. 2) is so energized, a, cam carried by the end frame 136 moves out of engagement with a normally closed limit switch 191 and theswitch 191 closes. When the arcuate end frames I35 and I36, the conveyer section I34 and the elongated pan 25 have been rotated substantially 90 in clockwise directions, as viewed in Fig. 2, a cam I92 carried by the end frame I36 strikes and opens the limit switch I19. This deenergizes the tilter motor I5I and the tilting movement stops in a position inwhich the pan 25 rests on a side member I96 connected to the arcuate end frames I35 and I36. The open top of the pan now points toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the packages (not shown) therein may be easily emptied into a hopper I93, Which is positioned to the right of and slightly below the pan when the pan is in this position.

After the pan 25 is emptied, the operator moves the contactor I11 (Fig. 8) of the reversing switch I16 out of engagement with the contacts I15 and I18 and into engagement with contacts I94. and I95 of the reversing switch I16. This connects the conductors 49 and 4! through the following circuit: the conductor I62, the safety stop switch I63, conductors I64 and 299, the limit switch I9I, conductors 29l and 292, the contact I54, the contactor I52 and the contact I55 of the delivery switch I53, a conductor 293, the contact I94, the contactor I11 and the contact I 95 of the reversing switch I16, conductors 294 and 295, a. winding 2l9 of a reversing relay 2H and conductors 2I2 and I83. This energizes the reversing relay 2I I, which closes reversing switches 2 I 32 I 3 (Fig. 10) thereof, and the reversible tilter motor I5I is driven in a direction in which the arcuate end frames I35 and I36 (Fig. 1), the conveyer section I 34 and the pan 25 are rotated back to their position shown in Fig. 2.

When the winding 2I9 (Fig. 8) of the relay 2 is so energized, it closes a holding switch 2I4 of the relay 2. The holding switch 2I4 is connected in parallel with the contacts I94 and I95 of the reversing switch I16 by conductors 2I5 and 2I6 so that the spring-pressed contactor I11 of the reversing switch I16 may be permitted to move out of engagement with the contacts I94 and I95 and back into engagement with the contacts I and I 18 without, interrupting the circuit to the tilter motor I5I (Fig. 10), which continues to run.

Shortly after the tilter motor I5I starts to return the arcuate end frames I35 and I36 (Figs. 1 and 2) to their original positions, the cam I92 is moved out of engagement with the limit switch I19, which closes so that the delivery circuit may again be closed at a later time. When the turned elements of the tilter I 33 reach their original positions, the cam I99 strikes the limit switch I9I and opens it, whereby the tilter motor I5I is stopped.

The pan 25 then is rolled back onto the conveyer section 22 of the hoist 23, and the operator moves the spring-pressed contactor 6| (Fig. 8) of the down switch into engagement with contacts 229 and 22I thereof. This connects the two conductors 49 and M through the following circuit: the conductor 43, the safety stop switch 44, conductors 45 and 22, the limit switch. 99, which was closed as described hereinabove," conductors 223 and 224, the contact 32, the contactor 39 and the contact 33 of the up switch 3|, a conductor 225, the contact 229, the contactor 6| and the contact 22I of the down switch 63, conductors 226 and 221, a winding 239 of a down relay 23I, and conductors 232 and H.

This energizes the winding 239 of the down relay 23I, which closes normally open down switches 233-433 (Fig. 9) of the down relay,

which causes the hoist motor 13 to be driven in a direction opposite to that in which it was driven when described hereinabove. The cable 8| (Fig. .2) then is lowered and the hoist frame 92, the elements of the hoist 23 carried thereby and the pan 25 are permitted to return to their firstdescribed positions by gravity. However, the cable and the hoist motor prevent too rapid a descent.

The energization of the winding 239 of the down relay'23I (Fig. 8) also closes a holding switch 234 of the down relay. The holding switch 234 is connected in parallel with the contacts 229 and HI of the down switch 63 so that the spring-pressed contactor BI thereof may be released immediately after it has been moved into engagement with the contacts 229 and 22I without interrupting the hoist motor 13 (Fig. 9).

As the movable elements of the hoist 23 (Fig. 6) descend, the cam I 38 moves out of engagement with the limit switch 52, which recloses. The stop collars I39I39 move into engagement with the stops I25I25 and further downward movement of the rod I 23I 23 is prevented. The bell crank levers I 2 I-I 2I continue to move downwardly so that they are pivoted in clockwise directions, as viewed in Fig. 6, to their positions shown in the drawings. The bell crank levers roll the turntable base 9| along the tracks 9393 back to its original position through the links I29i 29. As the turntable base 9| is rolled back, it moves the pinion H3 (Figs. 4 and 5) along the rack H4 and the turntable platform I99 and the conveyer section 22 are rotated back to their original positions. In this position, the conveyer section 22 is in alignment with the conveyer sections 29 and 2 I, and the depressible stop 24 then is depressed to permit the emptied pan 25 to roll down the return conveyer section 2 I.

As the hoist frame 82 (Fig. 6) reaches its original position, the cam 85 opens the limit switch 99 so that the winding 239 (Fig. 8) of the down relay 23I is deenergized and the down switches 233233 (Fig. 9) open. This deenergizes the hoist motor 13. The operation described hereinabove then may be repeated to hoist, turn, unload and return another elongated pan (not shown) similar to the pan 25 (Figs. 1 and 2).

In the operation of the conveyer described hereinabove, the elongated pan 25 is moved by gravity down the delivery conveyer section 29 and onto the conveyer section 22 of the hoist 23. The hoist is actuated as described hereinabove to lift the elongated pan to the tilter I33 and to turn the elongated pan into alignment with the conveyor section I 34. The pan then is moved onto the conveyer section I34. The tilter is actuated to tilt the pan to a position on its side, the contents of the pan are emptied into the hopper I92, and the tilter is reversed to return the pan to an upright position. The empty pan then is pushed back onto the hoist, and the hoist then is lowered to the level of the conveyer sections 29 and 2I. The pan is carried away by the return conveyor section 2|, and the operation described hereinabove may be repeated to unload the contents of another elongated pan (not shown).

The hoist 23 raises the elongated pan 25 and turns the conveyer section 22 thereof and the pan from positions at right angles to the tilter I 33 to positions in alignment with the tilter. As it so turns the conveyer section 22 and the pan, it moves them outwardly away from the tilter so that clearance is provided for their turning movesag-negate:

ment... The hoist and. the: tilter move; thefp'an from an upright position on the level of the con-,- veyer sections to a positionon its side above the hopper and immediately adjacent, thereto with.- outmanual handling of the pan so-thatthe contents of the pan may be emptied without: lift.- ing them-manually fromthe level of the conveyer sections 251 and 2|.

What is claimed is:

I. A turntable transfer, which comprises a conveyer section positioned at a predetermined level, a second conveyer section normally'in alignment with the first-mentioned conveyer section, a hoist for raising the second-mentioned conveyer section out of the level of the first-mentioned-conveyer section, a turntable-carriage slidable along the hoist,.a turntable carried-by the slidable car-- riage for supporting the second turntable transfer section, and means: for sliding the: carriage along, the hoist and? turning the turntable as the, hoist operates to raise: and turn the entire sec-- ondi-mentionedrconveyer. section to a positionin which it is at an angle with the first-mentioned conveyer section.

2'. A. turntable transfer, which comprises a conveyer section positioned at a predetermined level, a second conveyer section normally positionedat the same level as and' in alignment with the first-mentioned conveyer section, a horizontal turntable for supporting the last-mentioned conveyer section, means for moving the turntable vertically to move the last-mentioned conveyer section out of the level of the first.- mentioned conveyer. section, a rack, apinion meshing with the rack and operatively connected with the turntable for turning the turntable, and means automatically operable by vertical movement of the turntable for eilecting relative movement between the rack and the pinion to turn the turntable.

3. A turntable transfer, which comprises a conveyer section positioned at a predetermined.

level, a second conveyer section normally positioned at the same level as and in alignment with.

thefirst-mentioned conveyer section, ahorizontal turntable for supporting the last-mentioned conveyer section, means for moving the turntable vertically to move the last-mentioned conveyer section out of the level of the first-mentioned conveyer section, a rack, and a pinion meshing r with the rack and operatively connectedwitli the turntable for turning the turntable, said pinion being movable along the rack when the turntable is moved by the turntable-moving means for turning the last-mentioned conveyer section.

4. A turntable transfer, which comprises a conveyer section, a second conveyer section, a.

turntable for supporting the last-mentioned: conveyer section, a roller carriage for supporting the. turntable, a guide for supporting the carriage at one end of the first-mentioned conveyer section,-

means for supporting the guide at an angle with respect to the firstrmentionedconveyer section and for moving the guide transversely with re-' spect to the longitudinal axis of the first-men.- tioned conveyer section, means associated with the guide-moving means for moving the roller carriage along the guide, a rack carried by the guide in a position parallel therewith, and apinion secured to the turntable and being, movable along the rack; when the roller carriage'ismoved along the guide for turning the turntable and the last-mentioned conveyer section withrespect to the first-mentioned conveyer section.

5. A turntable transfer, whichcomprises a con.-

-' at an angle with respect to that conveyer section:

at a; level different from. that of that conveyersection, a turntable for supporting the movable: conveyer section,- an elevator including a guide. parallel to the first-mentioned conveyer section: for guiding the turntable toward and away'from' that conveyer section, means for actuating; the.- elevator' to move; the. movable conveyer sectionv to the level of thefirst-mentioned conveyer sec:- tion, meansfor moving the. turntable alone. the

. guide,v and means for actuating the turntable. to

turn the: movable conveyer section to a position: in which it extends in the same direction a the first-mentioned conveyer section.

6. A turntable transfer, which comprises a consveyer section-extending in a predetermineddirew tion at. a predetermined level, a second conveyer section normallyin a position in which it. is. at an. end' of. the. first-mentioned conveyer section and. extends at. an angle with respect to the first 1 mentioned conveyer section at a level below. that.

of the first-mentioned conveyer section, a.turn--- table for supporting the last-mentioned conveyer section, a: hoist including a. guide parallel to.- the first-mentionedconveyer section for guiding: the; turntable toward and away from the first-memtioned" conveyer section, means for raising.v the hoist to raise the second conveyer section to the levela of the first-mentioned conveyer section, means for moving the turntable along, the guide as the hoist is raised to move the second conveyer section relative to the first-mentioned, conveyer section, and means for actuating the turntable, to turn the second conveyer section to a position. in which it extends in the. same direction as the.

, first-mentioned. conveyer section.

7. A turntable transfer, which comprises a stae tionary conveyer section extending ina predetere mined direction at a predetermined level, a mov able conveyer section normally in a position in.

which it is at. an end of the stationary conveyer.

' sectionand extends at an angle with respect thereto and is at a level below that conveyersec-- tion, a-turntable for supporting the movable conveyer section, a hoist including a guide parallel.

, to the conveyer section of the turner for guiding,

the turntable toward and away from the station-- ary conveyer section, means for actuating. the hoist to raise the movable conveyer section to the. level of the stationary conveyer section, means. operable by the hoist for moving the turntable:

along the guide, a rack carried by the hoist inla.

REFERENCES CITED The following references. are of record in" thefile of this. patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,559,319 July 3, 1951 DUER C. ROBSON It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 7, lines 18 and 19, for turntable transfer read convey er;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 18th'day of September, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

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