GB2111933A

GB2111933A - Unloading means for conveying apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2111933A
Application number: GB08229300A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francesco Canziani
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-12-24
Filing date: 1982-10-13
Publication date: 1983-07-13
Also published as: CA1215342A; DK449982A; ES517051A0; NL8204082A; FR2518906B1; ATA403182A; SE8206012L; DK154478B; FR2518906A1; BE895228A; CH651805A5; NL190476B; GB2111933B; ES8400980A1; DE3238754A1; SE8206012D0; DE3238754C2; NL190476C; JPS6396028U; AT391428B

Abstract

The conveying apparatus includes a plurality of conveying and unloading carriages (4), each having a conveyor belt (11), driven by an electric motor, moving along a fixed path or track which consists of a monorail (2), the power supply to the motors which drive the belts (11) takes place through sliding contacts and fixed feed bars (12), located at the unloading stations, so that each belt (11) is controlled independently from the others as regards speed and direction of rotation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Conveying apparatus The present invention relates to a conveying apparatus for conveying and sorting objects, of the type consisting of a series of conveying members moved along a fixed path and able to unload the objects at predetermined unloading stations.

Conveying apparatus that are part of existing technology are well known, such as those used in large post offices to sort mail, or in mail order companies, or wherever there is need to select and distribute a large number of products which can differ in bulk and weight, channelling them towards clearly defined and distinct collection points.

Some of these apparatus consist of containing belt conveyors, with deviators or similar devices placed along them, controlled by electromechanical devices which perform unloading of the carried objects, for example towards other belt conveyors. Other devices consist of a series of platforms carried along a fixed path which interacts with devices which cause them to tilt and perform the unloading operation as required.

These known devices, however, have substantially limitations. Some cannot follow irregular paths, and in additions unloading takes place in the same way for all the objects carried, which is a big limitation.

In the case, for example, of a conveying system serving a number of machine tools, this limitation is especially strong. In fact each machine tool is fed, according to the machining operation it performs, at a quite specific rhythm, and as a consequence the workpieces must reach it at speeds which differ from machine tool to machine tool.

Consequently the belt conveyors carrying workpieces to these machines each run at different speeds, and thus it would be best if the objects unloaded on these belts reach them at a speed near that of the belt itself.

The utility of a sorting device that permits the objects to be unloaded at different speeds depending on which unloading station is being fed, or even at the same station, appears clear.

According to the present invention there is provided a conveying apparatus for transporting and unloading objects, comprising a plurality of carriages mounted on and movable along a track, each carriage having a belt conveyor powered to move in directions at right angles to the direction of movement of the carriage along the track, said belt conveyor being operative to perform unloading, means being provided to independently control the belt conveyor of the carriages to perform unloading in the desired direction and at the speed required.

A special characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention is the possibility each belt has of being controlled independently of all the others, and in a different manner, so that belt motion can be commanded in one or the other direction, and at different speeds as unloading requires.

Another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention is that it can move along twisting paths, even including curves in the horizontal plane or rising or lowering sections.

These belts are mounted on a frame which slides, supported by wheels and pulled by a chain powered, for example, by an electic motor, along a monorail. Pairs of feed bars are placed parallel to this monorail. Sliding contacts run on these bars, providing the power necessary for the motors which drive the small belts.

Each of these pairs of feed bars is placed at an unloading station, and each is independent from the others. This permits the power supplied to each motor to be varied, permitting unloading to be done on one side or on the other, and at the required speed, by simply inverting power supply polarity or varying voltage.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partial side view of a conveying apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view from above of Fig.

1; and Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section of the apparatus taken at right angles to the feed direction and on a larger scale.

The apparatus includes frame 1 supporting a monorail 2, along which, pulled by a chain, not shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and powered by electric motor 3 or by simiiar devices of a known type, travel a series of carriages 4 of which only one is illustrated in the Figures.

Monorail 2 (Fig. 3) follows a closed path, which can be contained in a vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 3, or in a horizontal plane, or any variation in between.

This support monorail 2 has a "T" shaped cross-section.

Each carriage 4 includes frame 5, mounted on the monorail 2 by pairs of wheels 6, 7 and 8.

Of these wheels the pairs 6 and 7, with horizontal axes, serve to support the frame 5, by alternatively rest on the horizontal member of the monorail 2, depending on whether carriage 4 is above the monorail 2.

Wheel pair 8, with a vertical axes, serves to guide the carriage 4.

This layout, which permits the use of a single support rail 2, permits the carriages 4 to move along a winding path, with a layout as desired.

Each frame 5 carries a conveyor belt 11 engaged with rollers 9 and 10, the small conveyor belt 11 extending in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the carriage 5.

This small belt conveyor 11 is powered by an electric motor, preferably a permanent magnet D.C. type, not illustrated in the Fig ures.

Fixed feed bars 1 2 are installed along side the path of the monorail 2, at each unloading station. Each feed bar 1 2 is independent from the others, and extends approximately the entire length of the unloading station each feed bar 1 2 has a pair of conductors.

The motor for driving the small belt 11 gets its power directly from these fixed bars 12, using a pair of brushes, or sliding contacts, indicated by reference number 1 3.

Feed belts 14 are also provided (Fig. 1), to deposit the objections to be conveyed onto the small belts 11. Belts 1 4 are located above the path of the carriage 4, and are connected to devices, preferable electronic, and not illustrated in the drawing, which control their operation.

Operation takes place as follows: The objections to be conveyed, carried by belt 14, fall onto the small belts 11 while the carriages 4 are being pulled along the monorail 2. To do this there is a synchronizing control unit, which commands unloading of the objects on belt 1 4.

The control unit, which can be programmed, can be activated either by a machine operator or by an automatic monitor, for example a monitor of bar codes.

This control unit, depending on the final destination of the object, commands belt 1 4 to perform unloading, for example on the belt 11 of the first carriage 4 that is free, and subsequently sets controls so that, when the small belt 11 passes by the preselected unloading station, the respective fixed bar 1 2 is fed with the voltage required to perform unloading.

Consequently, when each carriage 4, with its relative small belt 11, reaches a predetermined unloading station, the system can be regulated to select the polarity and the amount of voltage of the current that passes through feed bars 1 2 to reach the motors which drive the small belt 11, causing the belt 11 to rotate in one direction or the other, depending on the polarity selected, and at a preselected unloading speed, in function of the voltage.

This makes it possible to exploit the special features offered by permanent magnet D.C.

motors, permitting simple control of the substantial acceleration characteristics that distinguish this type of apparatus, so that, for example, the objects are unloaded on other belt conveyors at approximately the same speed as that of the conveyors they fall on.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications or variations to this embodiment can be made without, however, departing from the present invention as defined in the ap

Claims

pended claims. CLAIMS

1. A conveying apparatus for transporting and unloading objects, comprising a plurality of carriages mounted on and movable along a track, each carriage having a belt conveyor powered to move in directions at right angles to the direction of movement of the carriage along the track, said belt conveyor being operative to perform unloading, means being provided to independently control the belt conveyors of the carriages to perform unloading in the desired direction and at the speed required.

2. A conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each said belt conveyor is driven by a D.C. permanent magnet type electric motor.

3. A conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which said motors are fed with electric current using a pair of fixed feed bars installed at each of the unloading stations.

4. A conveying apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, having a series of fixed feed bars, each independent from the others, disposed to be contacted by sliding contacts provided on the carriages for feeding each motor that powers said belt conveyors independent one from the other.

5. A conveying apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the track is formed by a monorail which supports and guides the mobile carriages.

6. A conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which each carriage is mounted on said monorail using pairs of wheels, and that said carriages are pulled along the monorail by means of a chain.

7. A conveying apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, having å belt for loading objects on the said carriages, and provided with synchronizing devices designed to control unloading of said objects on said carriages, and to command unloading as the carriage comes to preselected unloading stations.

8. A conveying apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.