US2064858A - Sorting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

E w RIEGER E AL SORTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 16, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Dec. E W RlEGER ET AL S ORTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 16, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TO PHOTO-ELECTRIC CELL A PPA RATUS INVEN'ITORS 6 Mm 7 11m aifm lflf Dec. 22, 1936. E, w. RIEGER Ei- AL SORTING APPARATUS Filed Jan 16, 1935 5 Sheets- Sheet 5 INVENTORS amam fi and 7 SOR'IING APPARATUS Ernest W. Rleger and Clinton E. Hunt, Steubenville, ()hio application January '16, 1935, Serial No. 2,008

4 Claims. (Cl. 209-121) This invention relates to sorting apparatus, and consists, specifically, in apparatus for sorting sheet material by weight. It finds practical appllcation in the sorting of sheets of rolled steel. It will be apparent that the apparatus is of wide and general applicability.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a view in side elevation of apparatus for sorting sheets of steel in which the invention is embodied. Fig. Ia is a fragmentary view in side elevation, in

. which a detail of structure is illustrated diagrammatically to larger scale. Fig. II is a view of the apparatus in cross-section and to larger scale, on the plane indicated by the broken line IIH, Fig. I. Fig. II illustrates the organization of electrically operated mechanism for automatically stacking the sheets in successive packs of predetermined number. Fig. 11a is a wiring diagram. Fig. III is a fragmentary sectional view to yet larger scale, on the plane indicated at IIIIII, Fig. II. Fig. IIIa is a view comparable with Fig. III, and illustrating a modification in detail. Fig. IV is a fragmentary view, showing a portion of the apparatus in plan from above. Fig. V is a view in vertical and longitudinal section; on the plane indicated at VV, Fig. IV. Figs. III and V, when brought into comparison, illustrate alternate positions of certain movable parts. Figs. VI and VII are other fragmentary views (in plan and in longitudinal and vertical section) illustrating particularly the structure and organization of a balance that forms part of the apparatus. Fig. VIII is a diagrammatic view of a photo-electric cell and associated apparatus,

' organized with a movable member of the sheetconveying apparatus. Fig. IX is a diagrammatic view of the sorting apparatus of Fig. I in organization with manually controlled apparatus for preliminarily grading the run of sheets from the tinning operation. Fig. X is a view similar to Fig. IX, illustrating a modification in the grading apparatus.

In the rolling of sheet-steel under prevailing conditions of mill structure and operation, it is not possible to obtain perfect uniformity in the thickness of the rolled sheet. In the production of tin plate, for example, the steel sheets are rolledand sheared to size. They then are coated with tin, cleaned and polished, graded, sorted by weight, and packed. Heretofore the sorting has been done by girls who, inspecting the sheets singly, heft them one by one. These girls, through practice, learn to segregate light from heavy sheets. Such hand sorting is in the nature 0. skilled labor; the personal equation is a factor upon which accuracy depends; and, manifestly, it

is not possible thus to make exceedingly nice selection and segration according to weight. This invention displaces skilled labor in betting. dispenses with the personal equation, and substitutes for approximation a high degree of precision, so that in a run of sheets of varying weight segregation may be made into an indefinite number of groups, the sheets in each group distinguished from those of adjacent groups by small but constant inequality in weight. In association with means for efiecting the ends indicated, additional means may be employed for preliminarily grading a run of sheets, according to visual inspection.

Tin plate is boxed for the market and graded according to box weight-that is to say, as of so many pounds per base box. A base box may be, for example, 112 sheets of 14 x 20 inches. A base box of this specification will contain tin plate of a total surface extent of 31,360 square inches. Tin plate is made in various box weights as demanded by the trade, and usually the weight ranges from 70 pounds to 135 pounds per base box. In the operation of rolling it is not always possible to produce uniformly an order of exact gauge or box weight; so that, while it is the aim to roll an order having a box weight of 107 pounds, for example, this order is likely to contain some sheets that are too heavy and beyond the range of permissible variation in that order, and other sheets that are too light. These light and heavy sheets, however, may fall well within the ranges of other box weights. By the practice of this invention the sheets may be sorted,

so that they will severally and automatically fall into stations of particular and predetermined box weights, and thus be properly classified by weight. The light and heavy sheets may be set aside and later be fitted into orders of proper box weight.

Provision is also made that as the sheets are discharged in their respective stations, of which there may be as many as desired, they are automatically reckoned or counted as they fall into the pile; and provision is made that when a number of sheets in the pile reaches 112 (for example) or any fraction or a multiple thereof, as may be predetermined, the further sheets'may be diverted to another piling station and there commence the building up of another package. In this way the machine is capable of doing the reckoning which under the present practice is now done by men who are known as reckoners."

In the apparatus of the invention the sheets are caused to rest in substantially vertical position edgewise upon. horizontally-extending skids, and they are pushed singly in broadside advance along the skids. The continuity of the skids is interrupted at one or more points in their extentand if at more points than one, then at properly spaced pointsby two particular mem-- bers. One of these two members consists of lengths of skid rail borne by and forming part of a balance; so that, when an advancing sheet of weight exceeding a predetermined critical value comes upon them and rests upon them the balance swings. The other of the two said members consists of lengths of skid rail immediately sequentin the direction of sheet advance to those lengths just mentioned. These lengths of skid rail that form the second member are movable from their normal positions of skid-continuity.

As illustrated in Fig. IIIQthese rail-lengths are pivoted to swing in vertical plane from their normal position of horizontal continuity with the other portions of the skid rails to a position in which the continuity of support is broken. In such swing the rail-lengths recede in the direction of the' length of the skid rails from the portions with which they had maintained continuity, and a gap-is opened in the skid rails, through which gap the advancing sheet falls by gravity.

Referring to Figs. I and II of the drawings, a conveyor structure is shownthat consists of a frame including a pair of horizontallyextending, spaced-apart, parallel sill beams wheels 2, a pair of sprocket chains 3, vanes i borne bythe chains at intervals, and skid rails 5. The sprocket chains are endless, and, interconnected by the vanes 5, travel in continuous courses. The chains, thesill beams, and the vanes are constructed in familiar manner, illustrated in the fragmentary large-scale detail in Fig. I, so that tension exerted by the turning sprocket wheels holds the links of the chain flat upon the horizontal faces of the sill beams and the vanes in vertical position. The direction of travel of the upper reach. of the sprocket chain structure as seen in Fig. I is from left to right. At the left-hand end the vanes, in rounding the sprocket wheels, spread angularly apart, and at that point the sheets to be sorted are introduced one by one, and rested singly upon succeeding;

vanes. The vanes are conveniently formed of steel and are of the skeleton structure shown. They carry the'sheets laid upon them and, advancing and coming to vertical position, they bring the sheets to vertical position, resting upon rails 5, and they push'the sheets forward, as the sheets rest edgewise upon the rails. The positions of particular. sheets of different size are in Fig. II indicated in broken outline at a and b.

- v The number of rails 5 that, extending side by side, constitute the skid-way for the sheets is variable, and will be such as, in the particular situation is found desirable. In Fig. II five such rails are shown. The continuity of the rails 5 is the frame of the apparatus, as upon the knifeedge bearings indicated at 6!. The beam is l, sprocket 2,064,858 counterweighted, as indicated at 62, and its range of swing is limited by means of a keeper 63; the keeper is also mounted in the framework, and includes a slot through which the beam at its end extends. The value of the weight 62 is such adjustable, to afford precisely the critical value desired. The beam at one end (the right-hand end, as seen in Fig. V1) is of loop shape, to afford a properly disposed support for the alignment of rail sections 5|. Provision is made for the maintenance of the rail sections 5! in precisely their normal position of horizontal extent, even as they make their slight descent with the swinging of the beam 6. The sections 5! are mounted upon a loop-shaped member 52. Member 52 rests immediately upon the beam 6-on knife-edge bearings, indicated at 53, and is as its lower end articulated to the framework by links 54. Fig. VII shows a parallelogram comprising a rigid vertical frame member, the vertical member 52 and the horizontal members 6 and 54, all

pivotally connected: and it-is manifest that, in

consequence of such organization, the loop continues in its vertical position and the work-sustaining faces of the rail sections 5| continue aligned in horizontal position, as beam 6 swings.

Adjacent the rail sections 5! and immediately, succeeding them in the direction of advance of material upon the skid-way are other rail sections 55, that also constitute a set in alignment transversely of the skid-way. These rail sections 55 may be arms borne in parallelism upon a shaft 56; and the shaft 56 is organized, by rotation to maintain the arms alternatively in the work-sustaining position shown in Figs, IV and V, where the rail sections 55 are seen to constitute part of a continuous skid-way, and in the swung-' aside position shown in Fig. III, where, being swung aside, a gap is opened in the continuity of the skid-way. The movement of the rail sections 55 is in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the skid-way and away from the plane of extent of a descending sheet; and, in consequence, when these rail sections 55 are swung to the position of discontinuity, shown in Fig. III. a gap is opened in the skid-way, through which gap asheet may freely fall. The rail sections 55 are thus seen to be gates in the skid-way. A normally de-energized solenoid 1 (cf. Fig. I) is organized with the shaft 56, and, as shown in Fig. VIII, the weighted armature 5'! of the solenoid. acting upon an arm 58, is effective to hold the shaft in such position in its range of permissible rotation that the rail sections 55 extend in their normal, skid-affording position (Figs. IV and V).

When the solenoid is energized, the arm 58, to

which the armature is pivoted, swings upward (Fig. VIII), the shaft turns, and the rail sections 55 come to their-gap-opening position (Fig. 111). v

From this position the tie-energizing of the sole.- noid allows the parts to fall away under gravity, and thus the rail sections again are brought to the position of Figs. IV and V.

Alternately, the rail sections 55 maybe adapted to slide horizontally between gap-opening and closing positions. As shown in Fig. IIIa, the rail sections 55 may be secured to a cross-bar 12. A

tension spring 13, acting upon the cross bar, is 5 advances, and the rail sections give downsheet, it swingsback to .normal position (incl-' gap-closing position, and a solenoid l, arranged in opposition to the spring, is adapted to shift the rail sections 55' as a unit longitudinally of the rails 5. Normally the solenoid i is de-energized, and the rail sections 55 lie in gap-closing position. When a sheet of critical weight or greater ward, the solenoid is energized'and the rail sections 55 are drawn in the direction of the arrow, Fig. IIIa, into gap-opening position. Upon the passage through of the sheet, the rail sections 5| rise, the solenoid is de-energized, and the spring 73 restores the rail sections 55 into their normal, gap-closing position. Purposeful delay in the sequence of the steps described is considered below. These various specific ways of opening a gap in the skid-way, to permit the falling through of the sheet, sumce to indicate that the invention may be practised with variation in details of structure and operation.

Whether the rail sections 55 swing, as shown in Fig-III, or slide, as shown in Fig. IIIa, their movement is in the direction of the length of the skidway; thus, with a minimum range of movement of these parts, a gap is opened for the fall of the sheet, and the gap that is opened is not limited lateraily by the presence of such movable parts. When the advancing sheet reaches the edge of member 5i the gap is open before it, and when it passes beyond such edge it falls free, without any obstruction or restraint whatever.

Electrical control is preferably provided for opening the gap in the skid-way. Referring to Fig. VIII, a photo-electric apparatus is shown, v

including a light source 8, a photo-electric cell 9, and a slotted screen ill. The screen If) is borne 1 by the beam 5 (cf. Fig. VII), and the parts are so arranged that normally the screen cuts off light from the source; but when, in response to the weight of a heavy sheet, the beam 6 swings, the slot in screen l0 comes to position permitting light from source 8, passing through the slot, to impinge on cell 9. This causes current flow in the cell circuit H, and, by means of the usual electric equipment (I I0) organized wi vh the cell and a source of electric supply, a timeimit relay l2is brought into play. Through the relay a normally open make-and-break device l3 in the circult it that energizes the solenoid l is closed; the

solenoid is energized; and the rail sections 55 move to the gap-opening position shown in Figs. III and 11111. A heavy sheet impelled along the skid-way by a vane t and bearing upon the aligned rail sections 5| has brought such operation about. The advance of the sheet continues (cf. Fig. III). Advancing beyond the edge of rail sections 5 I, the sheet a falls through the gap that has'thus automatically been opened before it in the skid-way. When the beam 6 isrelieved of the weight of the dentally raising railsections 5! to their normal positions, Fig. V) light is cut off from cell 9; the time-:limit relay l2, after a predetermined delay, again opens the make-and-break device i3; the solenoid l is de-energized, and the track sections 55 move back under gravity to their normal positions of continuity in the skid-way. The organization is such that the gap will open while the advancing sheet still rests on the rail sections 5i and before it passes beyond the edge of these sections, and the time-limit relay is so designed and adjusted that the solenoid i will not be de-energized to permit the rail sections 55 to return to the sheet when the gap is reached.

Falling through the gap, the sheet may by a curved guide l5 be brought to horizontal position; and, arrested by a stop jl 6 (Fig. I), may then slide down an inclined guide I! to a receptacle pre-- pared for it.

Advantageously, the guide I! is adjustable between two positions of inclination, whereby it is adapted to direct the discharged sheets alternately into two courses of delivery. Conveniently, the

guide-is angularly adjustable in such manner that the sheets are delivered alternately into two rereceptacles located one on eachof the opposite sides of the apparatus. A tally and electric mechanism are organized in the apparatus for swinging the guide from one position to the other;

upon the'delivery of a predeterminednumber of graded sheets into one receptacle, the guide automatically swings and delivers the sheets into the other receptacle. Accordingly, stacks of sheets of predetermined number and grade are obtained automatically, and it merely remains to pack and bind the stacks for shipment.

As shown in Fig. II, the guide I! is mounted upon a shaft 14, and, subject to the alternate energizing of two solenoids 15, I6, it is shifted from P one to the other of the two positions indicated, whereby the sheets dropping through the gap in the skidway may be discharged, first from one side of the apparatus and then from the other, into waiting receptacles. A tally i1 is conveniently mounted upon the framework of the apparatus, and the operating arm of the tally is organized with a spring l8 and a solenoid 19 in such manner that each time that the solenoid is energized a tally-operating oscillation of the armis efiected. A magnetic switch 8| (Fig. 11a) is arranged with the tally, and, responsive to adjustable means within the tally mechanism, the switch .8! is actuated on that swing only of the tally arm 80 that completes a predetermined numberof swings ensuing upon the last preceding actuation. As will presently appear, each actuation of the switch BI is effective to swing the in cline i i from its one position to the other. It may be remarked that the telly i1 and switch 8| comprise a machine which is obtainable on the open market under the name Productimeter, and for present purposes a diagrammatic illustration of such machine is deemed adequate.

It is manifest that, if found desirable, means may be provided for'holding the guide I! against accidental swing during the time when both of the two solenoids 75, 16 tirade-energized. Such means'may, for example, take the form of latches of known structure which, subject to electric control, may be effective while the said solenoids are de-energized, but which will become ineffective when either solenoid, being energized, is about to swing the guide. Alternatively, it is manifest that the solenoids themselves or associated magnets may be made effective during such times and to such ends.

On each side of the sorting apparatus, above the path of sheet delivery, a photo-electric cell is mounted, and below each of such paths a light of light across the path of sheet delivery and upon its associated cell 90, and the electric circuit wires 92 (Fig. II) ofthe cells are connected through the usual, well-known transformer and amplifying apparatus to a source of electric energy, whereby, when the beam ofthe light playing upon either of the cells is interrupted by the passage of a sheet, the circuit wires 93 (Fig. 11a) of the tally-operating solenoid 19 are energized. Thus, the delivery of a sheet from either side of the apparatus is instrumental in producing a tallying swing of the arm 80.

The tally mechanism in this case is so adjusted that, every time the arm 80 completes I I2 swings, the controlling circuit 94 of the magnetic switch 8i is energized. In other words, the switch BI is operated upon the delivery of 112 sheets from either side of the apparatus, that is, the delivery of 112 sheets subsequent to the last preceding operation of the switch. It is manifest that the mechanism may be so adjusted that the switch will operate upon the delivery of any predeter mined number of sheets. If, for instance, the practice is to make up, not one, but ten boxes of 112 sheets to the package, the switch will operate only after the delivery of 1120 sheets, to swing the guide to alternate position.

When the switch 8i operates, it swings a makeand-break device 95, and closes the energizing circuit as, 91 of the solenoids 15, 1s. The solenoid circuit includes a contact arm 98 that swings between two contact blocks 99 and 990 as the guide I1 is swung between its alternate positions. The contact block 99 is connected by a wire 89 to one terminal of solenoid I; and block 990 in like man ner'is connected by a wire 89 to one terminal of the solenoid IS; the opposite terminals of the solenoids are connected in common to the circuitwire 97, while the circuit wire 96 is connected to the contact arm 98. 'When the guide II lies in the position shown in full lines, the arm 98 is in contact with the block 99. The closing of the magnetic switch 0| then efiects the energizing of solenoid I5 through the circuit I wires 91, 89, 90. The armature of solenoid i5 is drawn downward, and the inclined guide I1 is swunginto its alternate position, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. II. In such alternate position the contact arm 98 engages the contact block 990, whereby, when H! sheets have been discharged from the left side of the apparatus (Fig. II) and when thereupon the switch 8| again closes, the solenoid 16 is energized through circuit wires 91, 88, 96. Thereupon, the guide I1 is swung totheinitial-position first mentionedthe full-line position, Fig. II. Accordingly, the apparatus is adapted automatically to count and to register the number of sheets as they are delivered and .to deliver the sheets in piles of predetermined number at one and another point of delivery.

In Fig. I the positions of five such sorting and delivering devices are indicated in the course of the travel of the conveyor through its upper horizontal reach. ,One or more of them may be made effective, as desired. The weights 02 (Fig. VII) of the several devices may be nicely adjusted to such relative magnitudes that the first device will remove from an advancing sequence of sheets those that exceed a certain critical weight; the second device will remove from the remainder all that exceed another and smaller critical weight; and so on.- As many such particular sorting devices as are desired may be provided to act upon a single run of sheets. Thus the run of sheets may be segregated by weight automatically, and with niceness and precision.

, Sheet material of any sort and for any purpose may thus be sorted and graded.

Tin plate as it comes from the tinning machine and through; the branning box and bran cleaner must be inspected, and, by inspection, the sheets are classified into four categories, termed in mill parlance primes, seconds, menders, and wastes.

It is contemplated that two conveyors, such as shown in Fig. I, may be provided. Such an arrangement isshown in Fig. IX. The first conveyor, indicated at I00, may be equipped with one or more (in this case three) sorting devices operated severally by push-buttons I05 under the control of an inspector. The sorting devices may include, in association with a skid-way upon which the sheets rest edgewise and along which they advance, swinging gates such as the gate 55 of Fig. V; so that, when the gate is open, the advancing sheet will fall from the skid-way. By such means the seconds," menders, and wastes may be sorted out and the sheets of these three categories severally segregated, and

only the primes may go to the second conveyor, indicated at 200, which in the manner already described automatically sorts them according to weight.

The sheets coming from the tinning machine IOI are passed through the bran cleaner I02, whence they proceed to' the inspection station I03. At the station I03 the sheets advance oneby-one to position in the usual turn-over device I05; the opposite faces of each sheet are in the turn-over device carefully inspected, and classi fication of the sheet is determined. The sheet then enters the conveyor I00. If the sheet is a "prime, it is permitted to proceed through the conveyor 900 and is automatically fed to the conveyor 200 of the described apparatus for sorting by weight. If the sheet is a second, a mender, or a waste, the inspector presses theappropriate-one of the three push-buttons I05; thus a gap-controlling solenoid I00 is energized, and a gap is opened in the skid-way above the corresponding delivery incline I70. The push-button is held depressed until the advancing sheet reaches and falls through the gap. Then the push-button is released, and the continuity of the skid-way is restored. It will be manifest that the apparatus I00 is efiectiv subject to the control of the inspector, to discharge the imperfect sheets selectively into three paths of delivery whereby. they are segregated according to the place on the conveyor I06, the inspector presses push-button I05a, and thereby de-energizes the solenoid I01. In consequence, the armature oi the solenoid drops to a position in which a collar I09, integrated with the armature, is engaged from below by a supporting stop IIOa. Thus the conveyor I00 is supported ir inclined position I06a, and the second advances to a con- 'ered into a receptacle lllc.

veyor Hilda, which discharges it into receptacle lilo. Upon releasing the button lfi5a, the solenoid it? is again energized, and the conveyor "3% is restored to horizontal position.

Upon pressing the push-button 5052), the solenoid lli'i is de-energized, and simultaneously a normally de-energized solenoid I i ii is energized, shifting the stop lllla into retracted position. Thereupon, the conveyor tilts to the position i 66b,

in which position it is supported by engagement of the collar N19 with a stop Hill). A conveyor W81) receives the sheet from the conveyor I06 and delivers it into a receptacle lllb. Thus, the inspector isable to effect the segregation of mendersl In like manner wastes are deliv- That is to say, by pressing button i050, the attendant de-energizes the solenoid lfll, retracts the two upper stops Ga, Hob, and causes the conveyor 06 to tilt into position 5860. The sheet is discharged upon a skid-way W80, whence it passes into the receptacle for wastes.

It will be manifest that the practice of this invention admits of advantages of the nature indicated. Sheet steel or sheets of other material may readily be classified and segregated according to their mechanical perfection, and the sheets of first class may thereafter be accurately sorted dinally along said rails and toward the so constituted gap, eachrail including a section movable between a position bridging the gap and a position oi withdrawal from the gap in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the rail, each rail additionally including a downwardly movable section, such downwar'dlymovable sections of the associated rails being arranged in alignment transversely of the skid way adjacent to and on the side of approach of the sheets to the gap, the said downwardly movable sections being responsive in downward movement in unison to the weight of a sheet in excess of a predetermined critical value resting upon them, and means responsive to such downward movement of the rail sections last named for shifting the first-named rail sections simultaneously from their positions of gap-bridging to withdrawn and gap-opening positions.

2. In sorting apparatus for sheet material, two conveyors arranged in succession, the second conveyor adapted to receive a sheet advancing from the first, each conveyor including a skid rail with a gap in it and means for causing the sheets to advance one by one resting edgewise uponsaid rail, two gates normally bridging the gaps in the two skid rails, one of the said gates being subject to the control of an attendant whereby it may be swung at will'from closed to open position, and the other of the said gates being subject to automatic control, such automatic control including a'member movable in response to the weight of a sheet exceeding a predeterminedcritical value that in the course along the conveyor comes to position upon it, together with means for swinging the automatically controlled gate in response to movement of such movable member.

3. In sorting apparatus for sheet material two conveyors arranged in succession, the second conveyor adapted to receivea sheet advancing from the first, each conveyor including a skid rail with a gap in it and means for causing the sheets to advance one by one resting edgewise upon said rail, two gates normally bridging the gaps in the two skid rails and adapted to be swung from such positions, two solenoids, one associated with each gate and adapted when energized to swing each its associated gate from gap-bridging position, means for energizing manually and at will the solenoid associated with the gate in the first conveyor, and means for energizing the solenoid associated with the gate in the second conveyor, the

last named means including a section of skid rail movable under an imposed weight of predetermined value.

4. In sorting apparatus for sheet material, a horizontally extending skid-way including a vertically movable section, means for advancing a succession of sheets resting edgewise upon it one by one along said skid-way, a stationary vertically extending supporting member, a counterweighted beam fulcrumed on said member, the movable section of the skid-way being fulcrumed on said beam and being provided with an integral downward extension, a link arranged between such extension and the vertically extending support, and forming with the extension the support and the beam a parallelogram of interlinked parts, whereby as the beam swings the said skid-way section is maintained in horizontal position, and means responsive to the swinging of the beam for allowing an advancing sheet to fall from the skid-way.

ERNEST W. RIEGER; CLINTON H. HUNT.

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