GB293023A - Improved conveying mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

293,023. Miller, W. J. June 30, 1927, [Convention date]. Endless-chain moulding- machines. - An endless chain conveyer which is intended particularly for use in conjunction with a machine for making pottery is provided with means for arresting temporarily the movement of certain sections without interfering with the movement of the remaining sections. The carriers 16 are suspended from the conveyer chains by trunnions 63, Fig. 6, on which are mounted sleeves 97 provided with grooved heads 86. Rollers 68 mounted on the trunnions run on rails 69. Between adjacent carriers there are four chain links 70, Fig. 3, which are connected by pins 71, 71<a>. The pins 71<a> have enlargements 72 which cause them initially to be raised in position above the level of the pins 71 on the rails 96 when the links are collapsed into a semi-pantographic shape. The length of the conveyer is such that there is always a sufficient amount of slack in the upper run to permit the temporary stoppage of the carriers 16 situated over the chucks 15, Fig. 1, of the pottery making machine without stopping the sprockets 62, 88. The carriers are arrested by the engagement with the grooved heads 86 of the hooked ends 75 of a pair of latches 73 which are pivoted at 74 to the rails 69 and are balanced so that the ends 75 normally extend upwards to intercept the heads 86. The latches are disengaged by pins 76 on oscillating arms 77 which are pivoted at 79, Fig. 1, to floating pivot blocks 80 and are kept from falling over by the engagement of a pin 99 on the machine frame 11 with a slot 98. Rollers 82 mounted on the arms are engaged by a pair of cams 83 adustably mounted on a shaft 42. Each arm has pivoted to its upper end a pawl consisting of two parts 84, 85 adjustably connected by a screw 84<a>. As the arm 77 moves to the left, the latches are first disengaged and then the pawls move the carriers from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 7, i.e. through a space equal to the distance between the centres of consecutive carriers. In this way a carrier 16 which is under the line of profiles 18 is moved to the left in Fig. 1 after the operation of shaping the material on the moulds carried by this carrier has been completed, and the next carrier to the right which is under the feeders and preformers 19 is moved into position under the profiles 18 after a charge of material has been fed to the moulds on this carrier and preformed. Simultaneously another carrier with moulds thereon is moved into position under the feeders and preformers 19. The part of the chain to the left of the profiles 18 has the slack taken out gradually by the pulling action of the sprockets 62 and is brought into a substantially straight line, Fig. 3, and at the same time that part of the chain which is to the right of the preformers is gradually gathered up into a semi-pantographic shape by the action of the sprockets 88. In a modification in which the material on the moulds of a line of carriers is shaped simultaneously, &c, the pawls 84, 85 are moved through a space equal to the distance between the centres of the extreme carriers of the line. Specifications 280,882, 283,182 and 284,692, [all in Class 87 (i), Bricks &c.], are referred to.