GB1402851A - Individual delivery of objects - Google Patents

Abstract

1402851 Forward articles individually IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES Ltd 3 July 1972 [15 July 1971] 33309/71 Heading B8A Retention stations carry objects of uniform height individually to a discharge point and are moved laterally and unidirectionally across a stream of the objects supported on a planar surface which is supplied continuously with objects and to which is imparted a suitable object-forwarding motion, the free space above the planar surface being limited to a height less than twice the height of the objects, by means which do not move in sympathy with the planar surface, so as to prevent piling, but allow lateral movement, of the objects. As shown, a pair of hoppers 1 supply articles to a vibrating plate 1 positioned beneath a top plate 4 and which forwards two rows of objects to a toothed wheel 6 carrying the objects to a discharge shoot 8. The number of objects arriving at the shoot 8 is counted and compared with the number of object-receiving pockets on the wheel 6 passing a counter, and an alarm is sounded if the article count drops below a predetermined level. The planar surface may also comprise a rotating or oscillating disc, an endless belt either moving continuously or being reciprocated, or a member with a flat upper surface, the member being reciprocated with a slow forward and rapid backward motion. The member may also, or alternatively, be downwardly sloped or have a downwards movement in its return stroke. The toothed wheel may be replaced by a pocketed belt.