US1904837A - Switching conveyer - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1933. H D POSEY 1,904,837

SWITCHING CONVEYER Filed Jan. 3, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ff. if

31a/ vanta VWM@ April 18, 1933. H D POSEY 1,904,837

SWITCHING CONVEYER l Filed Jan. 3, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuemtoz jo HLQBUQTD Posey April 1s, 1933. H D, POSEY 1,904,837

SWITGHING CONVEYER Filed Jan. 3, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwumkot April 18, 1933.

H. D. FOSEY SWITCHING CONVEYER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 5, 1930 een,

Patented Apr. 18, 1933 1 i i l' v- Y v di UNITED HERBERT n. "PosY, oncLEvnLelnn-oirio; AssIGNoR 'ro LOGANcof,V 1nd on' Y i LoUIsviLLnnEnTucKY,e CORPORATION on KENTUCKY A SWITCEING DNVEYER Application'jiiled January 3, `1930. Serial` No. 418,295. i Y

This invention relates to switching conveyv eyer vlaterally With respectl thereto,` and to ers, and more particularly to a "mainconprovide novel means for arresting the progf,`l veyer having switchsections extending late ressa,v of ,anl article along the main conveyer H A erally therefrom to which articles from theV andrthen eifectingtheremovalofthej article' 5 main conveyer are adapted `to be selectively from the conveyer at any of the' desired. 55 deflected. Y s 'Y V` points; t Y 1,5

It is-the usualpractice to provide means Vfor A further `Objectis to provide separate deiiecting articles or carriers from a main con-s' means for arresting the progress offan article veyer, and such a conveyerapparatus usuallyl lalongithe main conveyer an'dV for removing employs branch conveyers extendingl from thearticle from the mainc'onvey-er, andfitq 60 the main conveyer at acute angles. A de: provide common means @for operatinglthe iiecting device, operated by various means, separate-meansreferred to; V y is employedjat each branchseeten forde- Afurtherobjectisto provide an apparatus fleeting articles 'from the mainH conveyer to of .the character above referred to @which said section to determine the'destinations of readily 4may be made fully automatic infoper- 65 p the articles. p Y A ation, and wherein the movement fof the u,ar-k

Switching ,conveyers of the character reticleitself from/thc11minV conveyer-may blferred to possess a disadvantagein'l that it is utilized for returningto normal position the impossible te divert articles at right angles meansemplcycd for discharging the article:

With respect to the main conveyerto abranch from the naam" COIIVGYSI'L f L a i 70' conveyer arranged at right angles to the 'main h Uther objects' and advantages` Of the ill-Vene. conveyer; For this reason, considerable valu# H011 Wlll beCOIIle apparent during the ,course Y able iioor space must beyutili-Zed for the ofthe fOllOWIlgleSCrpi0I1`V f branch conveyers, and it ishighly ,desirable In the drawings I Vhave sh'ovvn several emfromV the standpoint of economy andi floor bodlmcnts Ofpthc invention.' -In this show` 75V space to provide branch conveyers atright lng, n y y 'y angles to the main conveyer to which articles Figure-1 is' a'plan vievvi ofa portion `of the' Von the main conveyer. can be directly transapparatus, l "f l U l ferred. Y Figure is a section on`line;2-2 of` Fig-1 An important object of the present invenurej l, Y i qui i. sov tion is to provide novel means forgmoving` Figure 3 iS a similar VcWf0n'line'3%3 of articles transversely of the-main conveyer Figure 2, A i Y at one or more desired 'points-.to discharge Figure 4 is .a similar VieWOIl line le-,4 ofV j the articles from theinain conveyer. Figure 2, y n v- Y A further object is to provide-:a main conAV Figure 5 is adet'ail view of a latch device, 85 veyer having a plural-ity of branch conveyers" \'Figu1'e 6 is a transversefsectional vievvfcnf extending at right angles therefrom, and to; line 6&6 of Figure 1 Y l 5 provide novel selectively operable 'means for Figure-7` 's a diagrammaticjvievv illustrat- V n transferring articles from the main conveyer" v ing one form of Y firingrsystem forfthefap- ,740' to the branch conveyers. paratus,i w1; A j.; s t I- 1 90l` A further obj ect is to Wprovide an apparatus Figure -BV is a detail section on line 8--8` of; of the characterwabo've referred tof having` Figure l shoW-ingan'article carrier in'pbsif.` V means operable by an articleon the main con- .tion,: y 17V .1 I n 'i veyer to automatically determine the point l Figure-9 is a, detail perspective view of one alongsthe main conveyer from Which the -arof thearticleicarriers, Y y I l 95T ticle is to be discharged. Figure'lO'isasectionalviewsimilarzto A further object is to provide amain con'- ure 2 showinganiodiedfform of the device; "i

Veyel having a' Plula'yif discharge .points 'i Figure l-l isa section: on line 11, -11 ,of Fig'- I from whichV articles on Y the. conveyer arev ure 107mm, A .4 f c z ,It 1 v v- Y adapted tobe removed'inemV VtheinainLcon- Figureia is e diagrammatic,representabanin@ n Va belt 13 contacts with the lower portions of the rollers 12 and is supported by idler rollers 14 arranged between the Vrollers 12. As

will become apparent, however, the invention isnot in any way limited to use in connection with live roller conveyers, but may be utilized with any type of conveyer such, for example, as the type employing gravity-rollers. Y

The main conveyer 10 is provided at spaced points therealong with branch conveyers indicated as a whole by the numeral'l, and the branch conveyers may be of any desired type.

In the drawings, branch conveyers of thev gravity type have been illustrated, and each lincludes side rails 16 between which are jour--- naled gravity rollers V17.kk The branch conveyers extend at right angles from the main conveyer, as clearly shown in Figure 1, and

means to be described are provided for transferring articles laterally from the mainconveyer to either of the branch conveyers 15.

vAt a point slightly spaced from the main conveyer, each of the branch conveyersis provided with a floating roller 18 which normally lies slightly above the plane of the tops of the rollers 17, as indicated in Figure 8.V The floating roller 18 of each branch section is adapted to be depressed by the passage of an article thereover to complete electric circuits to be described, and one form of mounting for the floating rollers and the switches associated therewith is illustrated in Figure 7. The floating roller normally may be urged upwardly by springs 19, and may be depressed against the tension of such springs whereby contacts 20 on the ends of the roller may engagepstationary contacts 21.

' Means are employed for transferring articles from the main conveyer to either of the branch conveyers 15, and since such means are identical for the various branch conveyers only one need be referred to in detail.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the

numeral 22 designates a pair of spaced sub-k stantially U-shaped supporting frames arranged between certain of the main conveyer rollers 12 and parallel thereto. These frames may` be supported on small angle irons 23 carried by the rails 11.V Each of the frames 22 is provided near the end thereof adjacent the corresponding branch `conveyer with a pair of depending arms 24 as shown in Figures 2 and 4. At a point spaced asubstantial distance from the lastV named end of each frame 22, each of the latter is provided with a rigid depending arm 25 slotted at its lower end as at 26 for a purpose to be described.

A bearing bracket 27 is secured against therail 11 adjacent the take off side ofthe conveyer beneath each of the frames 22, and a shaft 28 extends between these bearing brackets to be rotatably supported thereby. The shaft 28 is provided adjacent each end thereof with a pair of bell crank levers having arms 29 and 30 respectively, and each pair of arms 30 is connected by a pin 31 lying beneath 'and adaptedto operate against one pair of the depending arms 24. The rails 11 are connectedat points substantially beneath the frames`22 by cross members 32 each of which carries a depending bearing bracket 33, similar to the brackets 27 previously decribed, and rotatably supporting a shaft `A pair of bell crankv levers is secured to the shaft 34 adjacent opposite ends thereof, andV each pair of these levers includes depending arms r35 and laterally projecting varms 36. Links 37 are pivotally connected at one end as at 38 to the arms'35 and at their opposite ends, as at 39, to the bell crank lever arms 29. It will be apparent that since the various bell crank levers referred to are secured to their respective shafts, operation of the vshaft 34 will operate all of the bell crank levers, and this movement is utilized for a purpose to be described. The bell crank lever 'arms 36 are connected. to the ldepending arms 25 by pins 40 operating in the slots 26.

An operating crank 41 is fixed at one end to the shaft 34 whereby movement of the free end of the arm 41 is adapted to impart a turning movement to the shaft 34. The free end of the arm 41 is pivotally connected as at 42 to the lower end of a link 43, theV upper end of which is pivotally connected as at 44 to the lower end of an armaturev 45 operating in a solenoid 46. This solenoid may be secured to the adjacent rail 11 by a suitable bracket 47.

A bar or plate 48 extends transversely of the main conveyer adjacent and parallel to one of the frames 22, as shown-in Figure 1.

A pair of links 53 is pivotally connectedV as at 54 to brackets 55 carried by the plate 48. A bell crank lever including arms 56 and 57 is secured to the shaft 28 to rotate therewith, while ya similar bell crank lever including arms 58'and 59 is mounted freely on the shaft 34. The arms 57 and 59 of the bell crank levers referred to are Connected by a link 60, as clearly shown in Figure 6. It willbe apparent that since the bell crank levers are identical, a given turning movement ofthe arm 57 ofthe lirst bell crank lever will eiect an equal turning movement of the other lever. Thebell crank levers referred to are supported by bearing brackets 61 and 62. The lower ends of the links 53V are pivotally connected as at 63 to the free ends of the respective lever arms 56 .and 58.

F rom the foregoing it will be apparent that upward movement of thev free end of the lever 41 (see Figure 2) is adapted-to effect operation of all of the bell crank levers and associated parts previously described, and means is provided `for latching 46 angles to the axes of the rollers12. It will VIV,55

having its armature connected to the arm 41gin its upper position to retain the elements controlled thereby' in their operative positions. Referring tofFigures 2 andV 5, the numeral 64 designates a depending bracket carried by one of the rails 11, and a bellA crank lever 65 is pivotallyconnected l to this bracket as atVV 66. One arm ofthe bell crank lever projects laterally and` is weighted as at 67, while the other armis provided adjacent its lower end with a latch 68 adapted to engage beneath the operating lever 41. The latch is adapted to be moved to unlocked position in a manner to be referred to upon energization of asolenoid 69 thebell crank lever by a link 71. I

Each of the frames 22 constitutes a sup-V port for a plurality of small conveyer rollers 72 which are journaled in the sides of the frame members. axes arranged horizontally and at right be apparent that the tops ofthe rollers V72 are normally arranged `below the-'plane of the tops of the rollers 12and accordingly when the Vframe members .22 are in normal position packages or articles are adapted to l move overthe rollers 7 2without contacting therewithi :Either pair of frames 22 may be elevated to the dotted Yline positionindicated in Figure 2 to pick up an article on the con# veyer and discharge it to the corresponding branch conveyer 15. Means are provided `for cle on the main conveyer'shall be discharged.

Referring to Figure 9,' theV numeral-73 designates an article carrier preferably in l the form ofa rectangularV wooden or similar box corresponding generally in width-tothe width of the main conveyer. -One side of the article carrier is provided with almetallic' bar 74 spaced throughout the greater portion ofV its length romthe carrier and having feet 75 Vjat its ends secured tothe side ofV the Vcarrier as at 76. Thefouter facegotthe bar74 is provided with suitable -indiciafor a. p urposeto` 4be described. `If -desiredthe The `rollers 72 have'their` determining: to j which of the branch conveyers v15 anfarti` upperedge of the' bar 74may benotched as at 7 6, and a pair of keymembers 77 is slidable on the bar 74;V Eachof thekeymembers .771 may be provided with a 4lip adapted,V to engagein anyV of thenotches 7 6 tofiX the key members in` desired selected gpo'sitionsl `Referring to Figures 1 and'7, thel numerals 78 and 79 designate a pair of switch arms pivotally supported at their outer ends as at 80.

The inner ends of thearms are provided withl rollers 81'and'82 respectively.` Referring to Figure 7 ,I the lnumerals 83 and 84 designateY lineV wires leading from any suitable source of currentand the switch arm Sis connected to one of the line wires, such` as the `wire.84by a wire 85. Thev switch arm 79 is connected to one terminal ofthe solenoid 46 by a wire 86, A' .Y

while the other terminal of'this vsolenoid is connectedby a wire 87 tolthe line :wire 83. Y

The two terminals offthe `solenoidfj69 are connected to wires 88and 89-respectively, theL apparatus, substantially all of the operating elements are identical'. with .the form previously described eXceptiory the power means for operating the moving parts ofgthe ap!n lattern'eediz-not 1"06 paratus, and accordingly the be describedin detailf` 1 Referring to Figures. 10 and noted that al motor is'substitutedfor the-so` f lenoid .operating'means previously described.

A support 92 projects outwardly from one of,l the rails 11V and carries amotor 93 .thereon l having' al driving pinion 94 carried by its armature shaft. VThis pinion meshes "with a gear95fcarried by a shaft 96, asshoWn in Figure 10, and the latter shaft alsocarries a' small drum 97 about which passes acablej98.

`This cable is securedatits lower end to the free endofmthelever 41.-" The'cable 98 eX.- tends through an 4opening 99. formedY injthe support 92,'and the gears 9`4-and 95 andthe drum l97 are preferablyl covered a casing -V It will )be apparent thatlrotation of 'the shaft of the ,motor V93 inlone direction will, .elevate the lever 41,- whil'e;Y reverse rotation of the motorshaft will permit the parts to ref turn. to normal position gravity. Means are rriild for eiectin'e" rotafiontoffthilwr L tor in themannerreferred to. Referringgtq.

Y.Figure112,- the operatingcir'cuit `for'g'orie,de-

fleeting,station,isshown. [The motora93'isj shown'.` as rjbeingi `provided with brushes 101 Y and-102, and `a field 103, and opposite' ends of the field are connectedby wires1041toa rel versing switch 105 having an, operating lever` y the reversing switch 105. It will be apparent thatmovement of the handle 106 in op` 106. The brushes are connected to the reverse switch bywires 107.

A source of current 108 has its terminals connected to wires 109 and 110 which, in turn,

are Connected to the reversing switch by Wires solenoid 115. The other terminal of the solenoid is connected by a branch wire116 to aline Wire 117 connected at one end to the Wire 109.

The other end of the Wire 117 isconnected to one terminal of. the solenoid 118. v The other terminal of the solenoid 118 is connect-Y ed to one of the pair of contacts 21 previously described, While they other contact of this pairris connected by a wire 119 to the Wire 110. The solenoids 115 and 118 are provided with a common armaturev bar 120 having a pin 121 engaging the operating handle 106 of posite directions from the neutral position illustrated in Figure 12 is adapted to cause opposite rotation of the shaft of the motor 93.

A switchcontrol link 122 is connected at one end to any suitable portion of the operating mechanism of the associated discharge station, such as a portion of the lever 41. The opposite end of the link 122 is slotted as at 123 to receive a pin 124 carried by the handle 106. Y

The operation of the form of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive is as follows: i j

All of the frames 22 normally occupy a posi,- tion wherein the rollers 7 2 occupy a position below the plane of the tops of the main conveyer rollers y12, and the same is trueof the bumper rollers 49. Articles or packages on the main conveyer accordingly are adapted to travel throughoutvthe length of the conveyer in the usual manner.V

Articles intended for dischargerat a particular branch station are placed in one of the article carriers 7 8, and the slides 77 areplacedr inthe desired positions on the guide 7 4 according to the branch conveyer to which itis desired to discharge the carrier. In this connection, it will be noted that the contact rollers 81 and 82 are arranged different dis- ,551 tances apart for each of the discharge stations, and the slides 77 obviously will be placed onthe guide 74 a distance apart corresponding to rollers 81 and 82 at the desired discharge station. i Y

In this connection'k attention kis invited to the factthat Where it is desired to provide a large number of discharge stations, different slides and their associated guides may be arranged at different levels on the carrier 7 3,jand Vthe contact vrollersV ' ers 81 and 82.

that ofthe pair of contact arranged.

Assuming that articles on the main conveyer travel in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figure 1, and .it is desired to discharge a carrier at the first discharge station, the slides 7 7 of the carrier will be arranged on the guide 74 in such a position to correspond to the arrangement of the contact roll- As the carrier travels along the conveyer it will reach a point where the projecting portions of the slides 7 7 will contact with the rollers 81 and 82, and anl electrical connection will be established between these rollers through the slides 7 7 and guide 74. In this connection it will be noted that different discharge stations maybe similarly the arms 78 and 79 of the Contact rollers 81 and 82 are mounted rto swing about their pivots`80 as the contact rollers are engaged by the slides 77, and'springs (not shown)` are preferably provided for lightly resistingthe turning movement ofthe arms 8 and 79 to insure proper contact between the slides '77 and the rollers 81 Yand 82, and to insure that the electrical Vconnection between the rollers 81 and 82 be maintained a sufficient length of time to permit the operation of the parts depending thereon.

Referring to Figures 2 and 7, it will be apparent that when electrical connection is established across the rollers 81 and 82, cur# rent will be supplied v to the solenoidY 46 through wires and 86 and back through wire 87, the wires 85 and 87 being connected to the line lwires 88 and 84, as will be apparent. Accordingly the solenoid 46 will be energized to elevate its armature and thus move the operating lever 41 upwardly to rotate the shaft 34 about its axis.y As clearly shown in Figure 2, this movement will be transmitted to the shaft 28 through the bell crank lever arms 29 and 35 and thelink 37.

The action referred to obviously willswing the Vbell crank lever arms 30 and 86 about their axes, and'it will be apparent that the lever arm 86 will swing through a greater arc than the arm 30 due to the Adifference in the lengths of these arms and the lever arms 29 and 35. rllhe movement thus Vtransmitted to the frames 22 Will cause them to swing upwardly tothe angular dotted line position illustrated in Figure 2. It will be noted that the pin 81 is normally arranged a slight distance beneath the lower end of the arm 24, while the pin 40 is normally arranged in the lower end ofthe slot 26. Turning movement Y frames 22, but will eect movement of these frames only after the lever arm 41 and the elements connected thereto have moved an appreciable Vdistance from normal position.

. yReferring to Figure 6 it will be noted that rota-tionl ofthe shaft 28 in the manner previ- 81 and82 of the ously describedwill effect turning movement izo positive position in engagement with theV of the bell crank lever arms `and 57, this movementwill be transmitted `to thelever Varms 58 and 59 through the linlrO,V

the latter lever arms being mounted freelyon the shaft 34 due to the fact that this shaft has a `differential turning movement with respect tothe shaft 28. The link connection 60 obviouslyv effects equalturning movement of the bell crank levers' associated'therewith. It will be apparent that turning movement of these levers will be transmittedV to the plate 48to effect-upwardmovement" thereof and accordingly the rollers 49wvill be elevated above the conveyer rollers 12 and will arrest movement of thel carrier which hasy caused Athe previously described energization of the solenoid 16. Y 2

4No play is provided in the operating connections vbetweenfthe shaft 28l and `the plateV rollers 49, and hence in alinementqwiththe branch conveyer 15. It ,will'be .apparent that when the frames 22 are elevated tothe dotted line position illustrated in Figure 2, these frames and their associated rollers 72 act as an auxiliary take-oli' conveyer, and-the. package or article carrier arranged on the roller 7 2 will be caused to move transversely from the main conveyer to the branch con`V veye'r 15.

The latch mechanism illustrated in Figure 5 is provided as means for holding the operating elements in operative 'position .until the carrier is discharged from the auxiliary conveyer, and when the article movesA along the branch conveyer, it depresses the auxiliary roller 18, thus establishing electrical connection vacross the contacts 21. Current willthen flow from the line wire 83 through wire 88, solenoid 69, wires 89 and 90, and thence across the contacts 21, through the roller 18, to the wire 91, and back to the source through the wire 84. This action energizes the solenoid 69 (see Figure 5)4 thusV attracting thearmature of the solenoid to release the latch 68from the lever 41. The parts then will'befpermitted to return to normalV position by gravity. All of the parts 'will beV restored to normal position ready for op-V eration by a 'subsequent carrier, Vand in av position to permit such carrier to lpass over the discharge station if the carrier is destined for Vdelivery to a different branch conveyer.V

The operation ofthe form of tlievrdevice illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12 is identical witlrthe formV previously described so far as the mechanical connections are `con-V cerned between the operatingleve'rfll and the` frames 22 `and rollers "49. `Such operatik'in accordingly need'not berefe'rred to. In'itheff` modified form 4of the inventi'on,`fa motorf'is employed Vfor operating thev lever 41V, andthe operating handle106 ofthe reversing switchV normally occupies the neuiiral` position illustrated in Figure 12. u 1

When anv article carrierreaches'a station` f from which it isfde'stinedftoffbe delivered,

electrical corinectien"4 "will" be established across the contacts 81'and 82 `toenergize" the solenoid and thus attract the armature to move the switch v arm 106 into one of its operative positions. 4Operation'- of the Inotor' will then start, and the drum ',97fwill miY be driven through ithe gears94f and 95 to wind the cable 98 andfthus7elevatefthe arm 41; The link',1-22"operates somewhat inthe: y natureofalimit switch, and when the partsl of the apparatus have reached operative position, the link v122 willv move the switch armV 106 back to'normalf position, the .pi'nl1245 havingbeen moved .toA the i' lower limit,

ofthe slot 123""by the revious movement of theswitch arm. 1

ccordinglyV the motor will jstop` and the `partsV will remain in operative position until the package 'has been discharged tothebranchconveyer and4 has depressed the floating roller 18.

When the roller 18 is depressed, electrical' connection will be established across the contacts 21, andthus the solenoid 118 lwillbe" f energized to attract the varmature 120and move the switch arm 106to reverse position,4 in which position the pin 124ffwill bearr'angedfin the upper endof the slot1'23. jReverse operation of the vmotor obviouslyiwill unwind the4 cable 98 to` permit the partsfof i the apparatus to return to norinaljposition," and when such position is reached,niove ment r ioo of the link 122 through its ,connection` with I Van operating partsof the'apparatus, will ref tdneut'ral position ,1l

f Y 110 From 'the foregoing itwill be-app'arent turn the switch arm106 and thfus stop the motor.

that the present apparatus provides alnovel switching conveyer wherein the branch con-V veyers extendlat right'l angles from the main conveyer and the articles. are moved trans-v versely from the main conveyer instead of at an acute angle asinthe usual constructions, y .e

It y,isthe usual `practice to e slide 'thearticles from the main conveyer'at acute. angle,

thusintroducing substantial friction, andthe angularity of the branca conveyers consti-` tutesafwasteof floor space in abuilding-"in which such an lapparatus isemployed. The waste of space is minimized withA the present apparatusV and articles are moved 'transverselyof theconveyer with less friction than' isl present with the ordinaryconstructions. Y In this connection it will be notedithat the rollers`49 and 72 are freely rotatable withfthe articles as the latter are discharged fromtheA lao. i y

main conveyer, and when such action takes place, the articles are wholly free from the main conveyer rollers 12 and accordingly do not slide thereon.

vv,It also will be apparent that an article carrier may be keyed for delivery at any desired station, and common operatingmeans is employed for elevating the bumper rollers to arrest progress of the article on the conveyer7 and for elevating the auxiliary transverse conveyers to deliver the carriers to the branch conveyers. Y n Y It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and Adescribed are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shapes, size-fandarrangementof parts may be resortedfto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim: l

l. AY switching conveyer comprising a main conveyer, normally inoperativemeans movable to operative position for arresting the progress of an article moving along said main conveyer at a predetermined point intermediate the leiigththereof, means operative for discharging an article from said main conveyer after its progress therealong has been arrested by said first named means, a common device for rendering both of said means operative, and means carried by `the article for'determining the operation of said actuating device. l

2. A switching conveyer comprising a main conveyer, a stop device normally a1?- ranged below the path of articles moving along saidmain conveyer and movable upwardly to operative position in such-path of movement for arresting the progress of an article movingV along said main conveyer, means operative for discharging the article from saidn main conveyer after its movement has been arrested by said stop device, a common actuating device for said stop device and said means, and means carried by the article for determining the operation of said actuating device.

3. A switching conveyer comprising a main conveyer, normally inoperative means movable to loperative position for arresting the progress of an article moving along said mainfconveyer at a point intermediate the length thereof, and an auxiliary conveyer normally inoperative and movable upwardly to elevate the article from said main conveyer and discharge it laterally therefrom after progress of the article along said main conveyer has been arrested by said means,

j and means carried by the article for determiningr operation of said irst named means and said auxiliary conveyer. p

,4. A switching conveyer comprising a main` conveyer, a stop device normally arranged below the path of articles moving along said main conveyer andinovable upwardly to operative position m such path of movement for arresting the progress of an article moving along said main conveyer, an

main conveyer, a stop device including a plurality of rollers mounted to rotate on vertical axes and normally arranged below the path of articles moving along said main conveyer, said stop device being movable upwardly to operative position to arrange said rollers in the path of movement of articles moving along said main conveyer, and an auxiliary conveyer normally arranged below the path of articles moving along said main conveyer and disposed adjacent said stop device and movable upwardly to elevatethe article from said main conveyer and; discharge it laterallv therefrom said auxiliar conveyerincluding a pair of frames extending transversely of said main conveyer, and a plurality of rollers journalledin said frames and having their axes arranged substantially parallel to the direction of movement of articles on said main coiiveyei'.

6. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 5 provided with common actuating means for said stop device and said auxiliary conveyer, said actuating means being operative to move said stop device to operative position in advance of said auxiliary conveyer. Y

7. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 5 provided with a common ac-y tuating lever for said stop device and said auxiliary conveyer, positive connections between said lever and said stop device, and means connecting said lever to said auxiliary conveyer whereby movement will be transmitted to the latter to move it to operative position after the rollers of said stop device have been moved into the path of articles on said main conveyer.

8. A switching conveyer comprising a main conveyer, a stop device normally arranged below the path of articles moving along said main conveyer and movable upwardly to operative position in such path of movement, an auxiliary conveyer normally arranged below the path of articles moving along said main conveyer and disposed-adjacent said stop device, a pair of shafts, means for operating said shafts, connections between said shafts` and said auxiliary conveyer to move thelatter upwardly to elevate connections between at least one of said shafts and said stop device to Vmove the latter to operative position in advance of the transmission of movement tov said auxiliary conveyer.

9. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein the means for operating said shafts includes an electrical. power device, means controlled by the article as it reaches a position substantially lover vsaid auxiliary conveyer for actuating. said power device, and means operated by the article upon its dischargey from said auxiliary Vconveyer for returning said stop device and said auxiliary conveyer to normal positions.

10. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein said shaft operating means includes a solenoid, a lever operated thereby, means controlled by the article for energizing said solenoid, a latch for said lever, and means operated by the article upon its discharge from said auxiliary conveyer for releasing said latch.

1l. A switching conveyer comprisingV a main conveyer, a plurality ofl discharge stations arranged at intervals along said main conveyer, each discharge station including a stop device arranged below the path of articles moving along said main conveyer and movable upwardly to operative position in such path of movement for arresting the ro'ress of an article movin alon said P D main conveyer, an auxiliary conveyer nor mally arranged below the path of articles moving along said main Vconveyer and dis-V posed adjacent said stop device and common means Vfor moving said-stop device and said auxiliary conveyer to operative positions whereby the latter elevates the article from said main conveyer and discharges it laterally therefrom after progress of the article along said conveyer has been arrested by said stop device, the common means for each discharge station including a power device having an incomplete circuit, and means carried by the article for determining lwhich of said-'circuits shall be completed.

12. Apparatus kconstructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein each of said incomplete circuits includes a pair of contacts arranged adjacent said main conveyer, the means carried ,by the article comprising a device adapted to establish electrical connection across one of such pairs of contacts.

13. A switching conveyer comprising a main conveyer, means for arresting the progress of an article moving along said main conveyer at a point intermediate the length thereof, actuating meansfor said last named means, control means carried by the article traveling on-the conveyer for deterveyer, said last named operativebysaid actuating'means. Y

mining' the operation of said actuating means, and means operative in conJunction'withsaid arresting means for discharging the article i" fromthe main conveyer at such point substantially at' right angles 5to4 said main con; means being-rendered '14. A switching conveyer comprising a f main conveyer, means normally arranged' out of the path of travel of articles moving? along said main conveyer -and movable :intof'such path for arresting the progress of the article aloner said main conve er actuatinfr means. b Y 5 D operative for rendering saidL arresting means operative, control means carried by the article on the Vconveyer for ldetermining the opera# tion of-said actuating means',i and meansV renderedv operable by said ,actuating lmeans after said arrestingnieans has been actuated for discharging the article from said' conveyer.V ,l y 15. A switching conveyer comprising a main conveyer, means normally arranged out ofthe path of articles moving along said main conveyer and movable to operative position in such path for arresting the progress of an article moving along said main'con veyer without disturbing the relative position of the article with respect to the conveyer,A means for actuating said first named means,

control means carried by the article moving along said conveyer for determiningthe` operation of said actuating means, and means ,-i operative by said actuating means afterrprogf ress of the article has been arrested by said irst named means for transmittingmove-V. ment toan article thereon :and for discharg p ing the article from the main conveyer sub- Q stantially at right angles thereto and `With.

out" changing the relative position of Athe s article.

16. A switching conveyerV comprising a V 1 main conveyer, means ,operative for arresting the progress of an article moving along said main conveyer at a point intermediate the length thereof, mechanical connections for f eifecting operation of said arresting means,

electrical operating means for said mechanical means adapted to be rendered operative by an articlel moving along the main conveyer, means operativefor discharging an article from said main conveyer after its v' progress therealong has beenlarrested by said first named means, and meansconnectedbe# tween said mechanical means and said discharging means for rendering' thel latter 0p-V Lerative by said electrical means. v l 17. A switching conveyer comprising a main conveyer, a branch conveyer extending from said. main conveyer Aintermediate the ends thereof, normally inoperative means' adapted to be rendered operative for arresting movement ofvan article on the main conveyer at a point in alinement with said branch conveyer, an actuatingdevicefor said arresti'ao ing means, transfer means adapted to be operated Lfor transferring an article from the main eonveyer to the branch conveyei when movement of the article has been arrested by said arresting means, connections between said actuating means and said transfer means operable after movement of the article on the main eonveyer has been arrested, and means carried by the article for determining operation of said actuating means. v

In testimony Whereof'l aiX my signature.

' HERBERT D. POSEY.

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