Phase identifier assembly for endless conveyor control apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US3809921A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Phase identifier assembly for endless conveyor control apparatus",
  "abstract": "A phase identifier for the purpose of identifying an arbitrarily chosen phase of the cyclical movement of a conveyor, as represented by a loop of chain or the like, comprises a plurality of wheels positively driven by the loop at different speeds, but such that the speed of one wheel is a non-integral multiple of the speed of the slowest, so that any set of orientations of the wheels repeats periodically to define a cycle, greater than the cycle of any individual wheel, which cycle is made equal to the conveyor loop cycle by adjustment of the length of the loop. Associated with each wheel is a dowel adapted to operate a switch, and power is applied to the switches in series to give rise to an electrical signal at one phase of the phase identifier cycle and, consequently, at any arbitrary phase of the loop cycle. Two such identifiers in relation to one loop cause onloading of a consignment at any prescribed point of the conveyor and off-loading of the same consignment at any other prescribed point. A multiplicity of phase identifiers are adapted to effect multiple conveyance of consignments from a set of on-loading points to a set of off-loading points within one cycle of the conveyor movement.",
  "claims": [
    "1. Control apparatus for the purpose of identifying any arbitrarily chosen phase of the motion of a cyclical conveyor comprising, in combination: a phase identifier consisting of a plurality of wheels; switching means; distinct means being respectively associated with each of said wheels to operate respective switching means at one phase of rotary motion of the said wheel; said wheels being adapted to be driven in positive relation to each other at different speeds, the speed of one of said wheels being a rational non-integral multiple of the speed of the slowest wheel whereby any set of orientations of said wheels defining a phase repeats periodically, the period of a orientation being greater than the period of any one of said wheels to define a cycle of said phase identifier, said distinct means to operate respective switching means being arranged to operate simultaneously at one phase of the cycle; means coupled to said switching means to produce an electrical signal when the one phase is attained; a material loop adapted to represent the cyclical movement of the conveyor and to support a positive drive; and means to drivE the phase identifier positively in relation to said material loop, the length of said material loop being adjustable so that one cycle of said loop corresponds to one cycle of said phase identifier, whereby said phase identifier may be adjusted relative to said material loop such that the electrical signal identifies an arbitrarily chosen phase of the motion of the conveyor.",
    "2. Control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cyclical movement of the conveyor is represented by a planar loop of roller chain, the number of links in the chain being adjustable so that the chain loop may execute one cycle in exact synchronism with the phase identifier cycle.",
    "3. Control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pair of phase identifiers having cycles of equal period function in relation to a conveyor loop, with means to apply the electrical signal of one identifier to on-load a consignment and means to apply the electrical signal of the second identifier to off-load the same consignment.",
    "4. Control apparatus according to claim 1 with means to provide a multiplicity of electrical signals each at an arbitrarily chosen phase of the loop cycle and at a distinct output point.",
    "5. Control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wheels are spur gear wheels, the means to operate switching means are ball bearings mounted on dowel pins, each mounted on the face of a spur gear wheel, each said spur gear wheel being the final wheel of a train of spur gear wheels, all the trains being driven from a common input shaft, the switching means are microswitches and an electrical signal is provided whenever the microswitches, connected in series, are simultaneously closed.",
    "6. Control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means to operate switching means are rotary means adapted to bear metal parts transversely through gaps in electronic sensing heads and an electrical signal is provided through the medium of an ''''AND'''' gate when the sensing heads are simultaneously operative.",
    "7. Control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means to operate switching means are opaque discs, each with a small hole, and switching means comprises a photodiode on which light may fall to activate it effectively only after passing through a hole in each disc, the holes being in alignment, and an electrical signal is provided by an amplifier when the photodiode is so activated."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "H01H 19/183"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "FORMBY J & CO LTD"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1970-09-23",
  "publication_date": "1974-05-07",
  "grant_date": "1974-05-07",
  "priority_date": "1968-07-25",
  "application_number": "US-7493370-A",
  "family_id": "26756236",
  "citations": [
    "GB1249462A",
    "US1964909A",
    "US2258253A",
    "US2437168A",
    "US3691398A"
  ]
}