US2595762A - Conveyer feeding device - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1952 J. B. CALDWELL ETAL CONVEYER FEEDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 13, 1947 F i Ni w JM A. GmsEa May '6, 1952 Filed Aug. 13, 1947 J. B. CALDWELL ET AL CONVEYER FEEDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 42 HNVENTORS $.w. WOLF 43 Y 7 J-B'. CALDWELL AJA. GINSBERG 57 1 4 Q M y 1952 J. B. CALDWELL ETAL 2,595,762

CONVEYER FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 3 1 u.a.cALow:u. a a 5 A.A-GINSBERG Patented May 6, 1952 2,595,762 CONVEYER FEEDING DEVICE John Brodhead Caldwell, Albert Abraham Ginsberg, and Stewart Wil tario, Canada liam Wolf, Toronto, On-

Application August 13, 1947, Serial No. 768,418

4 Claims. (Cl. 198-29) This invention relates to automatic sorting apparatus, for sorting beans and like articles.

It is the main object of the invention to provide a simplified structure and arrangement of the operative elements of sorting apparatus generally and to improve the efficiency of same by means of a positive acting rejector which will reject articles from the machine, in a particularly efiicientmanner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. bean sorter of this class which depends upon reflected light sensitizing a photo-electric cell governing operation of the rejector, the rejector being operative below or above a predetermined threshold value of reflected light according .to the color and intensity of the latter and adjustment of the amplifier which amplifies the signals of the photo-electric cell governing the rejector.

With these and other objects in view, my in vention generally comprises apparatus for sorting articles which includes a frame designed to support a pair of continuous belts, one of these being a feed belt and being disposed to partially overlie the other, or conveyor belt. The feed belt has a, plurality of spaced apart orifices punched therethrough and is mounted within a hopper, means being provided for engaging the beans into these orifices and drawing the beans so engaged up an inclined plane until they rest upon the conveyor belt which is suitably grooved. They then pass along the conveyor belt after .transfer thereto in predetermined spaced apart relation and proceed to a detector device which includes a rejector designed to kicka faulty article from the conveyor belt to a disposal chute when energized by an electric amplifier system which derives the actuating signal from a photoelectric cell activated by light refiected from a particular article and emanating from a pair of concentrated light sources. I prefer to cause actuation of the rejector below a predetermined threshold value of light and provide means for adjusting this value in-the electronic amplifier. It will be appreciated, however, that for the sorting of some articles, it may be desirable to cause actuation of a rejector above a certain threshold value of light and therefore means are provided in the electronic amplifier for accomplishing such an object.

- Other'objects of the invention will be apparent from a study of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

.In the drawings, I Figure 1 is an elevation of a bean sorting apparatus according to my invention.

showing the conveyor belt in section supporting a bean ready to be kicked into a disposal chute. Figure 7 is a sectional view of the rejector of Figure 6 indicating its specific construction.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit of the electric amplifier unit.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, the present sorting apparatus is shown as designed for the sorting of beans and comprises the frame A supporting a drive motor B and the reduction belt and pulley system C driving the conveyor belt I0 which is mounted between the pulley wheels II and Ila. The pulleys I2 and I3 mount the feed belt I4 such that the lower loop proceeds up an incline to engage the belt I0 and the pulley wheel II. A suitable crossed-over belt C, provides drive connection between pulleys II and I2. Tension on the belt I4 is governed by the adjustable idler pulley I5 extending from secure connection to the post I6 of the main frame'A substantially as shown. A hopper ll designed for passage of the lower loop of the feed belt I4 is inclined and mounts a pair of pulley wheels I8 and I9, the latter being connected by a drive belt 20 to drive connection on the pulley wheel I3.

A hopper belt 2| having claws 22 extending therefrom is mounted between the pulley wheels l8 and I9 and moves in the same direction as the feed belt I 4.

The feed belt as shown in Figures 2 and 3 has orifices 23 which are countersunk on the underside of the belt as at 24, each orifice being of such a dimension as to accommodate a predetermined size of bean and being preferably of leather. The belt 2| travels at a slightly faster rate than the feed belt I4 and therefore the claws 22 .willurge the beans into the orifices 23 and they will be held in the orifices as the feed belt I4 progresses toward the pulley wheel I2. However, upon engagement with the pulley wheel I2, the bean resting in the orifice 23 will have its upwardly extending surfaces forced in line with the upper surfaces of the belt. The

main body of the bean therefore being in the area of the countersunk portion 24 will be released by the marginal surfaces of an orifice 23. The bean will thus be transferred to the belt M which has a longitudinal groove |6a as indicated in Figure 4, a plurality of beans being deposited on the belt as it progresses, in predetermined spaced apart relation according to the spacing of orifices 23 in belt [4. The beans are therefore deposited onto the belt l6 from the underside of belt l4 in a particularly efficient manner and by employing the feature of a hopper belt as described, the belts l6 and I4 may be run at approximately two feet per second with the beans spaced at a distance of two inches along the belt l0. At this spacing the beans proceed to be examined by a detector device which preferably discards the unwanted beans into a disposal chute.

Referring to Figure 5, the detector apparatus includes a pair of lamp units D and electronic amplifier unit E, a photo-electric detector F and a rejector G, the units D to F inclusive being mounted on the head frame H of the main frame A. The lamp units D, photo-electric detector F and rejector G are directed toward the con- The housing 26 may be adjusted relative to the a cross-bar 28 by means of the adjusting rod 26 pivotally connected to the housing clamp 36 and adjustably connected at its other end by suitable swivel fitting and nut 3| to the cross bar 28 as seen in Figure l. A conventional lamp 32 is mounted within the housing 26 having a reflector 33 to direct a substantially parallel beam through the reducing lens 34, the beam thereafter converging asindicated by the chain lines 35 onto the bean 25. It will beappreciated that if the lens 34 is mounted within the housing 26 by means of an annular threaded ring mated with an inner thread in the housing (not shown) that the beam 35 can be focused without adjusting the housing within the sleeve 21. Preferably both features are included.

The concentrated light directed on the bean 25 is reflected from its surfaces through the aperture 36 of the light shield 31 and through the lens 38 in the light tube 39 of the photo-electric unit F. Preferably an optical filter (not shown) is mounted within the light shield 31 in front of lens 38 or over aperture 36 in which latter instance a conventional filter accessory as is employed as an attachment for cameras would be satisfactory. The light passing through the lens 38 is directed on a conventional photo cell (not shown) contained within the photo cell housing 46 which converts the light energy to a voltage signal passing the leads 4| to the amplifier unit E to energize rejector G. V

The rejector G is shown in more detail in Figure 7 and includes the solenoid winding 42 mounted within the iron housing 43 which is pivotally mounted by its housing bracket 44 and pivot 45 on the bracket arms 46 extending from the floor 41 which supports the conveyor belt H) as seen in Figure 1. The solenoid coil 42 is wound upon the spaced apart soft iron core tubes 48 which are separated by a non-magnetic sleeve 49 designed slidably to accommodate a soft iron piston 56 which has a non-magnetic rejecting 'arm 5| and opposed mounting arm 52 coaxially extending therefrom. The mounting ring 53 adjustably fixed to the housing 43 has a pair of parallel spaced apart arms 54 extending therefrom having their free ends joined by a cross bar 55. The mounting arm 52 is resiliently connected to arms 54 by means of springs 56 adjusting means for the springs being provided by adjustable bolts 5'! mounted in the arms. As shown, the springs are connected to the mounting arm to cause the sleeve 49 to be axially in advance of the piston 56 corresponding to the withdrawn or normal position of the rejector arm 5| as shown in Figure 6. Upon energization of the coil 42, the piston 56 will take up a position between the tube 48 corresponding to the position of the sleeve 49 causing a kick and sharp advance of the rejector arm 5| and a kicking of the bean 25 into the disposal chute 58. In order to limit the travel of the rejector arm 5|, the mounting arm 52 carries a stop member 55 at its free end which will engage the stop plate 66 of the bracket 6|, the latter being adjustably mounted by the lock screw 62 on the adjustable stop shaft 63 made of insulating material. The latter is slidable in the bar 55 and is fixed in a position of adjustment by the lock screw 64, the butt end 65 of shaft 63 serving to prevent excess backward travel of the mounting arm 52 upon de-energization of coil 42, the combination of the stop plate and stop shaft providing a means of controlling axial oscillation of the rejector arm 5| on the springs 56 thereby preventing interference with non-detected beans passing along the conveyor belt H). The duration of energization of coil 42 is governed by limit switch means comprised of the resilient spring arms 66 and 61 extending from the stop' member 59, the latter being of Bakelite or similar insulated material to insulate the arms 66 and 61 from the mounting arm 52. Arms 66 and 6'! are interconnected electrically and carry at their free ends contacts 68 and 69 designed to engage contacts 70 and H of the spring arms 12 and 73. Arm i2 is resilient and extends from rigid mechanical and electrical connection from the stop plate 66 of bracket 6|, the arm 13 extending from stop connection to butt end 65 of shaft 63. As shown, contacts 66 and II are normally engaged when the coil 42 is not energized and when the piston 56 is at rest. Arms 66 and 6! are connected by means of pliable wire 14 to terminal post 15 which is insulated from an arm 54 by suitable insulating washer 16. The frame of the rejector is grounded as indicated by numeral H. The arm 61 is held on the butt end of shaft 63 by axial screw means 63a which makes electrical connection with arm 73 and has terminal post 18 on the free end thereof.

The rejector unit G is governed in operation by an amplifier amplifying signals from the photo-electric unit F and converting them into different signals of high electrical energy. On referring to Figure 8, the photo-electric tube 19 having cathode 86 and anode 8| is shown with the latter connected by way of resistor 82 and line '83 to a high voltage terminal 84 of a conventional power supply (not shown) reversing switch means indicated by the letter J are included in the anode and cathode circuit of the photo tube 79 in order to determine operation of the present sorting apparatus, according to whether rejectionof an article is required for a greater or lesser amount of light than a certain threshold -value. These switch means comprise terminals 85, 86 and 81 engageable by switch arms 88 and 89, the latter being ganged, together mechanically and extending from electrical connection to terminals 90 and 9|. Switch means J are shown in a position corresponding to actuation of the rejector G for a decrease of light below a certain value. Resistor 82 in plate circuit of tube I9 is therefore shorted out by switch arm 88. The cathode 80 has its shield 92 grounded as at 93 and extends by way of line 94 to post BI and connection by way of switch arm 89 and terminal 86 through the condenser 95 to control grid 96 of .voltage amplifier tube 91. Resistor 98 extends between line 94 and ground point 99 and resistor I determines voltage applied to grid 96 in the conventional manner. Cathode bias I6I determines operation of tube 91 and the screen I02 and plate I03 thereof are connected in the conventional manner through voltage dropping resistors I04 and I05 to the high voltage terminal I06 of the power supply (not shown). A conventional bypass condenser I0! is also connected between screen I02 and ground point I08. Plate I03 feeds the grid I09 of thyratron IIO through the conventional condenser III and resistor 2 arrangement and grid stopping resistor II3. Resistor I I2 is in the form of a conventional potentiometer one end thereof being connected by way of line II4 to terminal II5 of a separate bias supply (not shown). The cathode II6 of thyratron IIO is grounded as at 1, a condenser II8 extending between the latter and plate H9. The remainder of this figure is diagrammatic only and shows the rejecting arm 5|, piston 50 and mounting arm 52 and indicating mechanical operative connection to arms 66 and 61 of the limit switch means shown in Figure 7. The plate II9 of tube H0 is connected to terminal 15 and in normal position shown connected by way of arm 61 and contacts 69 and II to terminal I8. the latter beingconnected to one side of coil 42, the other side of said coil being connected in series with resistor I20 to line I2I connecting to terminal I06 of the power supply. Condenser I22 connects between terminals 15 and 18 to reduce sparking when contacts II and 69 are opened by energization of the coil 42 when thyratron IIO fires. Upon energization of coil 42 movement of piston 50 will cause contacts 68 and to close, thereby connecting plate II9 to ground and deionizing thyratron tube I I0 immediately, and in this manner rapid fire of thyratron I I0 is possible within the mechanical limitations of the rejector mechanism G. I

In operation, the present apparatus as described, is adaptable for the rejection of articles such as beans which have a color darker than a certain threshold value. In this connection it is necessary to mention that the particular value at which the beans will be rejected is determined by adjustment of the single potentiometer II2. If however, it is desired to reject the beans or other articles having a color lighter than a certain particular value, then switch means J should be actuated to cause electrical connection between terminals 90 and 86 and 9| and 81, such that the cathode 80 is grounded by terminal 81, the latter being connected to ground at 81a. The plate 8I of tube 19 is connected to condenser 95 and resistor 82 separates the plate 8| from the terminal 84. Preferably, the belt I0 is colored in such a manner that light reflecting therefrom is substantially equivalent to the light reflectin from articles which it is desired to retain. In

the present case the photo tube 19 is of the blue sensitive type where sorting of white beans is being carried out. If desired, switch means J may be eliminated if converse operation is desired by employing a red sensitive photo cell and changing the filter for the same appropriately. Adjustment of the present apparatus involves only the placement of an article of worst acceptable value beneath the photo cell unit F and subjecting the same to light from the lighting units D. The potentiometer H2 or threshold adjusting means is then adjusted until the rejector just ceases to be actuated. The hopper I! may then be filled with beans (in the present instance) and the motor unit started to begin sorting operations. It is preferred that the rejector unit G as shown in Figure 5 be located slightly to one side of the intersecting point of beans 25 and the axial line of the photo cell unit F to make up for the time interval in the mechanical action of the rejector unit. The non-rejected beans are allowed to travel along the conveyor belt until it passes over the pulley wheel Na and upon proceeding around the pulley, fall by gravity into the chute 58a' for collection in bags as desired.

It will be apparent that the present apparatus is greatly simplified in comparison with former devices employed in the general field of sorting articles according to color. Apparatus incorporating the present features may be designed to sort many different kinds of articles and in all instances effective control will be maintained by means of the few simple adjustments described. In order to start operation, it is merely necessary to determine the threshold value of light governing the sorting of the particular articles which usually will require only the slight adjustment of potentiometer II2.

It will be obvious that a plurality of devices, each being of the nature described, may be incorporated in one unit to prove six sorting conveying belts as a practical size unit. Such a scheme however, is merely the duplication of the device as described, constituting a plurality of parallelly spaced apart units mounted on a single frame and with a common drive means. Separate'rejector units however, will be necessary in each instance.

What I claim as our invention is:

1. In automatic sorting apparatus for sorting beans and like articles which includes a frame and a drive motor; a continuous feed belt having a plurality of orifices in spaced apart relation therealong and having an under loop and an over loop, a hopper, means on said hopper for forcing articles therefrom into the orifices of said feed belt in the under loop, a continuous conveyor belt mounted on said frame and having an upper loop and an under loop, a portion of said upper loop being disposed to engage a portion of said under loop of said feed belt, said conveyor belt and said feed belt being operatively driven by said drive motor whereby articles disposed in the orifices of said feed belt by said hopper are transferred by the former to said conveyor belt.

2. Sorting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the remaining portion of said lower loop of said feed belt is inclined upwardly in the direction of its travel, and a pulley wheel adjacent to and determining the portion of said feed belt engaging said conveyor belt and adapted to urge articles lodged in said orifices from lodgment lation of said orifices of said feed belt upon enfeed belt providing a faster rate of travel of the 10 former relative to said feed belt.

4. In automatic sorting apparatus for sorting beans and like articles which includes a frame and a drive motor; a conveyor belt driven by said motor, a continuous feed belt having a plurality of orifices in spaced apart relation therealong "and having an under loop and an over loop, the

under loop of said feed belt engaging the surfaces'of said'conveyor belt and overlying a portion of the latter, a hopper being designed for passage of the lower loop of the feed belt'therethrough and being adapted to receive a plurality of said articles, and means within said hopper operatively connected to said drive motor for forcing said articles into the orifices of said feed 8 belt, said conveyor belt and said feed belt being driven bysaid motor;

JOHN BRODHEAIJ CALDWELL. ALBERT ABRAHAM GINSBERG. STEWART WILLIAM WOLF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re.121,015 Dilger' Feb. 28, 1939 792,918 'Ohlend'orf June 20., 1905 1,812,294 Hohn l- June 30, 1931 1,921,863 Bickley 12 Aug. 8, 1933 1,957,222 Mershon .May 1, 1934 1,959,238 .Horsfield May 115, 1934 2,131,096 Cox Sept. 27, 1938 2,164,513 Ga'ebel. e July 4,. 1939 2,244,826 Cox June 10, 1941 2,264,621 Cox Dec. 2, 1941 2,382,863 Decker Aug. 14, 1945

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