GB722792A - Improvements in or relating to devices for ejecting flat articles - Google Patents

Abstract

722,792. Feeding letters. POSTMASTER GENERAL. April 25, 1951 [Jan. 17, 1950], No. 1267/50. Class 78(1). [Also in Group XVI] A device for ejecting postal letters from a position of rest and depositing each on edge upon a fast-moving conveyer surface by selective control means, comprises a container to which the letters are fed one by one and having a moving base and a stop-member at one end which restrains a letter until actuated by selective control means to release the letter which then moves with the base and is ejected between a pair of resilient rollers on to the conveyer. A container comprises guide-plates 5, Fig. 1, supported by horizontal bars 1, la, on either side of an endless conveyer belt 2 having a stop-member 33 pivotally mounted at one end and operated by a solenoid to project into the path of the letter and hold it stationary until the stop member is removed when the letter passes between a pair of abutting rollers 15, 16 which are rotated at an accelerated speed to eject the letter on to a fast-moving conveyer belt. The stop-member is spring-actuated to return to the stop position. The stop-member is screwed to a bracket mounted on a horizontal spindle 29 inclined to the longitudinal axis of the belt. The bracket is pivoted to the plunger' 27 of a solenoid 26. As the stopmember is withdrawn by actuating the solenoid it maintains contact with the letter until it has acquired the speed of the conveyer belt 2. The conveyer belt is tensioned by screws 10 and is driven by a pinion 12 on a spindle 11 of the driving roller. The pinion meshes with a gear train 13 driven by an electric motor which also drives a roller 15 through bevel gearing 21, 22. The bearing 20 for the spindle 18 of the roller 16 is mounted on a pivoting arm 23 adjustably spring-loaded. to urge the roller 16 to contact roller 15. In an alternative form, self-centring guide rollers 49, 50, Fig. 8, are provided which pass through slots in the guide-plates 5 and hold the letter centrally. The rollers are driven by a gear train such as 13 through suitable gearing. The stop member comprises a flat plate 35 which has an extension 38 which contacts an electromagnetically-operated pin 41 on a continuouslyrotating disc 39 to remove the gate to release a letter. A letter ejected by the rollers passes to a fast, main letter-carrying belt slightly below the belt 2 and at a small angle thereto. The main conveyer has vertical side-plates to maintain the letters substantially erect. A vertical belt is provided along one edge of the main conveyer, moving at the same speed or a little faster to reduce frictional drag.