GB2093422A - Vertical conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

A conveyor comprises a carrier which moves around a closed loop path and which has a support surface, formed of spaced fingers, which remains horizontal throughout. At least one roller conveyor protrudes into each of ascending and descending portions of said path. The carrier and protruding portions of the roller conveyors are of cantilever construction so that the carrier can move through the protruding portions of the roller conveyors to move articles therebetween. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vertical conveyor This invention concerns a vertical conveyor of the kind (hereinafter termed "of the kind referred to") which can receive articles at one level for delivery to a different level.

According to the present invention there is provided a vertical conveyor of the kind referred to having at least one carrier having an upwardly facing support surface, drive means for moving the carrier continuously around a closed loop path which comprises two side-by-side upwardly extending portions in which the carrier moves upwardly and downwardly respectively and upper and lower portions connecting the upwardly extending portions in such a manner that said support surface remains horizontal throughout, said support surface comprising a plurality of spaced fingers extending in cantilever fashion from mounting means therefor, and there being at least one roller conveyor protruding into each of said upwardly extending portions and having the rollers actually in said portions mounted in cantilever fashion such that the fingers of the support surface of the carrier can pass between them as the carrier moves round its path, whereby articles may be collected from one roller conveyor and delivered to another by movement of the carrier.

Where more than one roller conveyor protrudes into one of the upward portions, means is provided for displacing the rollers actually in the path of the carrier for selected conveyors so that articles can be collected and-delivered as required.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only one form of vertical conveyor embodying the invention.

Of the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the conveyor; Fig. 2 shows a rear elevation of the conveyor seen in the direction of the arrow X on Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the carrier member of the conveyor of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the conveyor comprises a supporting frame generally indicated at 1 0. This may be wholly fabricated as part of the conveyor or may be formed from frame parts secured to and interconnected by the walls or other structural parts of a building. In either event the frame 10 is of tower-like form and surrounds two laterally adjacent vertically extending conveying paths A and B.

At one side of the frame 10 are two endless chains 1 a and 1 b arranged in slightly spaced relationship such that the vertical plane containing the chain 1 a is inwardly spaced from the vertical plane containing the chain 1 1 b. The chains 1 la and 1 b follow generally rectangular paths of identical shape. The corners of the rectangular paths are defined by supporting sprocket wheels.

Thus the chain 1 a is carried by sprocket wheels 1 2a, 1 3a, 1 4a, and 1 5a, whilst the chain 1 b is carried by sprocket wheels 1 2b, 1 3b, 1 4b, and 1 Sb. The axes of the sprocket wheels 1 2a, 1 2b, 1 4a, and 1 4b on the one hand and 13a, 13b, 15a, and 1 sub on the other hand lie in common vertical planes respectively whilst the axes of the wheels 1 2a and 13a on the one hand and 14a and 15a on the other hand lie in horizontal planes slightly upwardly spaced from the horizontal planes containing the axes of the wheels 1 2b and 1 3b on the one hand and 1 4b and 1 sub on the other hand respectively.In this way the vertically extending lengths of the chain 1 a are disposed directly behind the vertically extending lengths of the chain 1 b whilst the horizontally extending lengths of the chain 1 a are upwardly spaced from those of the chain 1 b.

Each of the chains 1 a and 1 b has a special link. These links are provided with bearings 1 6a and 1 Sb respectively for adjacent portions of a cranked shaft member 1 7 which serves to interconnect the chains 1 a and 1 b. One of the sprocket wheels is connected to motor drive means (not shown) so that the two chains may be driven to carry the member 1 7 around a generally rectangular path. The sprocket wheels are designed to permit passage of the member 1 7.

The separation of the adjacent portions of the member 1 7 journalled in the bearings 1 spa and 1 Sb is equal to the vertical separation of the chains 1 a and 1 b over their horizontally extending lengths whereby the member 1 7 maintains a constant attitude in space as its traverses its rectangular path.

The member 1 7 supports a carrier member 1 8 of fork-like construction comprising a bar 1 9 carrying spaced parallel fingers 20 which are unconnected other than at the bar 1 9. The support surface of the carrier 1 8 defined by the upper edges of the fingers 20 is horizontal and, of course, remains so as the carrier moves upwardly in the conveying path A and downwardly in the conveying path B and during travel between each of these paths all in the fashion of a so-called "paternoster" lift.

A roller conveyor 21 delivers articles to be elevated to the base of the conveying path A. The rollers of the conveyor 21 actually within the path are mounted in cantilever fashion from the opposite side of the frame 10 from the chains 1 a and 1 b and are so spaced and disposed that the fingers 20 of the carrier 1 8 can pass between them to collect anything located thereon as the carrier 1 8 starts to ascend in the conveying path A.

In similar manner, roller conveyors 30 are provided at different levels above the level of the conveyor 21 for receipt of articles carried by the carrier 18. Each conveyor 30 has a part 30a which protrudes into the conveying path B and the rollers of the parts 30a are mounted in cantilever fashion from the opposite side of the frame 10 from the chains 1 a and 1 b and are so spaced and disposed that the fingers 20 of the carrier 1 8 can pass between them to deposit articles carried on the carrier 1 8 thereon.If articles are to be deposited on a conveyor 30 below the uppermost conveyor 30 the part 30a of all conveyors 30 above the level where articles are to be deposited must be removed from the conveying path B as, for example, by pivoting as indicated in chain-dotted lines in Fig. 2.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Thus, for example, the chains may be equipped with more than one carrier 1 8 if desired.

Again, for example, more roller conveyors may be provided at vertically spaced locations in the conveying path A whereby the machine may be used to convey articles from various levels therein.

Generally means will be provided automatically to operate those parts of the roller conveyors protruding into the conveying paths to ensure that any article fed to the machine is carried to the correct location as selected by an operator.

Although the conveying paths A and B will normally be vertical, they may, of course, be inclined for certain applications, if desired.

Equally, and especially if only small articles are to be conveyed, each of the chains may be carried by two sprocket wheels only instead of the four herein described.

Again, each of the chains may be positively driven and the vertical spacing between the axes of each pair of tranversely adjacent sprocket wheels may be greater to facilitate such drive arrangements.

Claims (6)

1. A vertical conveyor of the kind referred to having at least one carrier having an upwardly facing support surface, drive means for moving the carrier continuously around a closed loop path which comprises two side-by-side upwardly extending portions in which the carrier moves upwardly and downwardly respectively and upper and lower portions connecting the upwardly extending portions in such a manner that said support surface remains horizontal throughout, said support surface comprising a plurality of spaced fingers extending in cantilever fashion from mounting means therefor, and there being at least one roller conveyor protruding into each of said upwardly extending portions and having the rollers actually in said portions mounted in cantilever fashion such that the fingers of the support surface of the carrier can pass between them as the carrier moves round its path, whereby articles may be collected from one roller conveyor and delivered to another by movement of the carrier.

2. A vertical conveyor according to claim 1 wherein said upwardly extending portions are vertical.

3. A vertical conveyor according to claim 1 wherein said upwardly extending portions are inclined.

4. A vertical conveyor according to any preceding claim wherein there are a plurality of said roller conveyors located at different levels in at least one of said upwardly extending portions, the parts thereof which protrude into said portion being mounted so as to be removable therefrom, all whereby articles may be conveyed between desired levels which may be varied as required.

5. A vertical conveyor according to any preceding claim wherein the mounting means for said carrier comprises a cranked shaft having adjacent partsjournalled in bearings in links of two endless chains carried on sprocket wheels and at least one of which can be driven, said chains being arranged one behind the other and one thereof being vertically displaced relative to the other whereby, as the cranked shaft moves, with the chains around said closed loop path, it maintains a constant attitude in space.

6. A vertical conveyor substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the several figures of the accompanying drawings.