US1861600A - Conveying system - Google Patents

Description

.June 7, ll- B'. s. HARRISON 1,861,600

CONVEYING `SYSTEM Filed4 May 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .1 www# Y g V ATTORNEYS..

June 7, 1932- B. s'. HARRISON 1,861,600

CONVEYING SYSTEM Filed May '27, 195o 4 Sheets-sheet s June?, 1932. B, s, HA'RRlsQN 1,861,600 I CONVEYING SYSTEMY I Filed May 27, 1930 4 sheets-sheet 4 ATTORNEYJ conveyin cially to ti yPatented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES naar s. mm1soN,-or nnooxLYN, New Yoan convenue sYsTEn -My invention relates' to improvements in systemsand apparatus and espee type of apparatus which is adapted for use in rapidly handling quantities of goods which are dipped in desiredtanks for cleaning, painting, drying and other purposes. Y 1

Ihe object' of'my invention is to producel A, a s1mple,eilicient and highly condensed apparatus which is semi-automatic in function andwhichwill enable the work to be speedily and nicely performed.

In this specification, I have shown enough of a conveying system to make my improvement-s understood, andthe improvements `relate particularly to the means for operating the hangers -on which goods are placed so that they Amay be placed conveniently in connection with a drive orpusher chain offthe automatically released at a definite point and dipped successively in the. desired baths, all Work being under the accurate control of the operator.

-leys -alo Heretofore, pusher chains or drive lchains single acting dog to push along the trolleys carrying the goods -to be dipped and to move the goods through a dry oven or ,the like, butsuch practice` has been. usually in connection with ovens which f are o ned and closed as the goods are receiv or 4leave the oven,vand the action of the pusher chain has been intermittent and of the dogs has been tosimply push the troli But, in more recent developments, What` are called bottom entry ovens are used in which the ends of the oven are open and are at lower levels than the u parts of the oven'so that the heated air will stay in the upper "part and the goods are, therefore, preferably moved by a constant motion through such oven. It follows that y grades Y and my improved double acting dogs or jaws are intended to work in connection with such.

the trolley tracks through such an oven have vup on one side and down on the other,

j an oven, although they can' work well kin other arrangements, but with my invention, the .parts which move through the oven are positively so that they are carried 11p-grade, and when the trolleys pass in correct 'drawings forming a. part of this PPer ' partly in section,

'Applicatipn led layY 27, 1930. Serial No. 458,032.

to the down-grade of the oven, the arrangement of the trolleys and 'the goods they carry is not disturbed because the double acting dogs or'jaws prevent any dsarrangement.

My invention is further intended to prou vide a' convenient means for holding the goods position while being dipped, and further to provide a convenient spacing means, which, when the point at which the goods are to be dipped is reached, will quickly eo space the trolleys and the hangers'which they carry further apart to facilitate dipping operations and then permit them to assume their` normal position after the dipping.

Other improvements and advantages will o5 'appear from the description which follows.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying speeiication in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a diagrammatic plan showing the general arrangement of the system.

Figure 2 is a broken longitudinal1 sectional elevation of a part of the apparatus showing the hanger jaws released to rmit the dropping of the hangers to dip t e goods.v

Figure "3 is a broken crosssection on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a broken enlargedy detail view illustrating the manner in which the goods are dipped. Figure 5 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the hanger-jaws in connection with the drive chain.

Figure 6 is a. Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross section of a slightly different arrangement of the hanger jaws and drive chain.

Figure 8 isan enlargeddetail elevatioml partly in section, showing the spacing means for adjusting the hangers at the place where the goods are to be dipped.v Figure 9 is a cross section on the line 9 9 of Figure 8, and r Figurejf 10 is a diagrammatic elevation, illustrating a type of oven to whichthe system is well adapted. In Figure 1 the general arrangementof section on the line 6-6 of 85 the apparatus isis'howm-and at A is illustrat-fl ed how the trolleys and the hangers which they carry are moved along on the monorail with the trolleys following one another, and at B the trolleys are switched so that at the point C, two trolleys which carry a single bar, as presently described, will be in parallel relation and travel along the course of the conveyor or drive chain D in order thatthe hanger bars may be engaged and released by the drive chain, all of which will be hereinafter described in detail. At E is diagrammatically shown a bottom entry oven with the hanger bars passing through it.

Along the course A is a monorail 10 which can be an inverted T rail of a known type, and at the point D this rail merges into two parallel rails so that two trolleys following one another along the course A will be switched at B to bring them into parallel relation and to continue alongl two parallel rails, as shown f in Figure 3. This arrangement is not shown 55 however, gripping jaws or described in detail because it is not new.

Along the rails 1() run ltrolleys which can conveniently be each in the form of a pair of wheels 11 connected to a bracket 12 which hangs below the wheels and two adjacent trolleys will support a hanger bar 13, the connection between the bracket 12 and the hanger bar being leys move from following one another along the line A swivels will permit the chains and the hanger bar to extend transversely from one trolley to its mate.

The goods to be dipped can be hooked over `the hanger bar 13, as shown at 15, and any suitable or approved connection of this character can be used. The goods are to be dipped shown the tank divided into separate compartments 17, 18 and 19 which may conta-in liquids of a desired character. One may contain a cleaning liquid, for instance, an acid solution, the next a cold water rinse, and the next a hot water rinse, or it will be understood that they might contain any desired solutions or a greater or less number of baths may be provided. The goods may then be passed through a dry-off or burn-off oven, and thence to a paint dip tank whence they may be passed through a paint bake oven 36 (Fi re 1) of the inclined bottom entry type.

T e power driven-and constantly moving conveyor or drive chain is shown diagrammatically at D and in detail in some of the other igures. 1t can have, and preferably has, at the joints wheels 20Vwhich are arranged in pairs on axles 21 and run on suitably supported tracks 23, the axles of adjacent pairs of wheels being connected by links 22. This part of the drive chain may be, however, of any approved character and it is typical of a drive chain. It carries, 24 and 25 which are a swivelconnection as shown at 14. y Thus, it will be seen that when a pair of trolto the parallel position at C, the

in a tank 16, and in Figure 4 I have intended to engage the several hanger bars 13 as the latter come in connection with the drive chain so as to carry the bars forward to accomplish-the desired work on the goods which they carry, These gripping jaws are shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6. They are pivoted on the adjacent axles 21, as the drawings show, and the pairs of jaws overlapping and their lower or freer ends formed into hook members 24 and 25 tend to close around and engage the hanger bar 13. The jaws drop by gravity to a position to engage a hanger bar and they are caused to move in unison and are held in proper relation by a pin 28 of one which enters a slot 27 of the other and thus they `are held to move in unison and the limit of movement is fixed by the length ofthe slot.

At a fixed place in the movement of the bars with the drive chain, the aws are automatically opened so as to permit a. hanger bar or a series of bars to be dropped to carry the goods into the tanks or baths above referred to. This opening is automatic and simply accomplished. by providing one of thejaws .of each bath with an upwardly extending arm 29 which projects upward from the pivoted axle 21 and in the path of the several arms is a tripping abutment having upwardly inclined ends 30 and a horizontal lbody ortion 31, see Figure 2, this being arrangedJ above the baths or tanks. At this point, that is at a point coincident with the abutment 31'and with the tanks below, are vertically displaceable sections 10'l of the monorails 10 so that when the jaws are openedto release the hanger bars, the sections 10 of the rails, the trolleys which they carry and the hanger bars and the goods thereon may all be dropped so as to immerse the goods in the respective tanks. Y

In the drawings I have shown means for dropping three hanger bars and the goods thereon as this corresponds with the number of tanks 17, 18 and 19. If it is desired to have a larger number of tanks, then, of course.

- there would be a longer separable section of the monorail so that a greater number of hanger bars could be dropped.

The raising and lowering of the trolleys and hangers is done by a suitable elevator which can be controlled by the operator and which is not shown in detail-.because many kinds of elevators l:tor this work are adapted to the purpose, and no claim. is made here for the construction of the elevator itself. As illustrated, the railsections 10 are connected by are motor opera-ted and the motor controlled as to stopping, starting and reversing, by switches 34, 34', see Figure 2, so that the operator can by pressing a-button or turning a switch, control these operations. This is referred to simply to make it clear what the operation is and without any idea of lim- L f` cables 32 with Winches 33 whichl butv it will be understood iting the invention to any particular form of elevator.

I have shown and described in Figures 5 and 6 a drive chain and the bar gripping jaws thereon, and `here a single pair of jaws is arranged between each pair of drive chain links but if a wider and better ripping surface is desired on the hanger ar, two pairs of these jaws can be used at each link connection and spaced apart as shown in Figure 7. The arrangement otherwise is as already described, but by spacing the jaws in this way, there will be two pairs of jaws engaging the hanger bar 13 at different points, thus making a stronger'and more even support.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have shown a practical means of properly spacing the trolleys and the hanger bars they 'carry when the sections 10 of the trolle rails are reached to providefor spacing an dipping the goods.

e arrangement shown works satisfactorily that other means can be used having the same function but of different structure without affecting the' invention. As illustrated, pawls 37 which can be conveniently track rails 23, are arranged t0 engage and space thehanger bars 13, and these permit the bars and the trolleys to travel in close connection, eachn pawl 'having a notch 38 which rides on thehangerbar' and holds it normally in position, but the notches are not deep enough nor sharp enough to prevent the hanger bars from engagement with them. These pawls are arranged so that there will be one just before the dipping 'point is reached and just after this dipping point is left by the trolleys, and similar pawls 37 are pivotally connected with the rail sections 10' so as to engage the bars and hold them steady while the dipping operation proceeds. These can be connected to the rail s ections 10 equivalent. Adjacent these sections 1U' of 'the rails is arranged a slide frame 39 which carries pawls 40, these being pivoted thereon y and having their free ends 41 shaped to enhanger bars which are engaged gage the hanger bars 13 while ends 42 are shaped so as to enga porting rail and prevent the pawls from dropping'too low. The slide frame 39 is arranged to reciprocate, and as itmoves'to the right, as'shown in Figure 8, it will be seen that the pawls 40 engage a seriesv of hanger bars, and as the frame moves very much faster than does the conveyor, the by the pawl will be uickly moved forward-over the sections 10 and spaced properly so that when the sections 10 are lowered, the goods on the hanger bars will be in proper registry with the tanks 17, 18and 19. Whenthe slide frame moves forward, the pawls 40 will push -the upper ge the sup- 55 the hanger bars out of engagement withthe pivoted for example to the being pushed out ofv by brackets 43 or their b gagem'ent with the pawls37 but thel hanger bars will then be engaged by the pawls on the sections 10' above referred to so as to beheld steadlly during the dipping.. v

Any convenient means can be used for reciprocating the slide frames 39, but I have shown a means which permits them to be under control and to move quickly. As illustrated, the frames are carried by trolleys 44 which move on guide tracks 45 and the frames connect with cables 46, the connection being near each end of the frame, as shown at 46 in Figure 8, and the cables are wound upon the drums 47 which are shown mounted on a shaft 48 which is supported in suitable bearings. To the shaft 48 is attached a pulley 49 over which runs a rope 50 with the ends hanging down within the reach of the operator. Thus, bypulling on one member of the rope, the slide frame may be moved one way and by pulling on the other member, the frame is returned.

I have shown one dipping arrangement and elevator therefor, but this arrangement may, of course, be duplicated. In Figure 10, for example, I have shown a tank 19 and the arrangement just 'described can be, of course, used in connection with this or with a greater or less number of tanks.

At E, in Figure 10, I have shown the oven 36 diagrammatically as abottom entry, and it will be seen how thegrade of the conveyor tracks 23 extends first upward and then downward and how the double acting jaws'or dogs 24, 25 serve to hold the hanger bars 13fand their trolleys in desired spaced relation while travelling In practice, the hanger bars are loaded at an desired point as they 'travel lengthwise along the course A and at the switch point B, the trolleys are diverted as already described so that one of each pair will fbllow its appropriate rail 10, and a pair of trolleys will then e in parallel spaced relation with the hanger bar 13 traversing the course of the drive chain. As the hanger bars come to this position, they are successively placed in endrive chain and are carried forward to the tank 16 in the manner above described. As the tank is reached, the

arms 29 of the adjacent gripping jaws strike the abutment 31, opening the jaws and releasing the hanger bars, as shown clearly in Figures 2 and 4. At this point, the elevator is operated to permit the .hanger bars carried thereby to drop so that the oods on the hooks 15 will enter the tanks.' gs the rail sections and their hanger bars dropout of engagement with the jaws on the drive chain, they do not interfere with the progress of the latter. After the sections are raised, another haniger bar and its trolleys are rail sections 10- over these grades.A

appropriate jaws of the i the rail sections 10. 'and pushed in place on the by the spacingmeans proved Ameans for releasing the ing transversely u tically, between the tracks, jaws hanger bar and its trolleys on the rail sections 10 again into engagement with the gripping jaws and carries them forward one step so that the hanger bar at the left hand in Figures 2 and 4 will move forward on the fixed part of the monorails and at the right hand a new hanger will be advanced to dipping position. The operator then drops the elevator and again submerges the goods'but those that have been submerged in the tank 18, for example, will ,his time be submerged in the tank 19 while the merged in the tank 17 will be immersed in the tank 18. This is because the spacing means will have pushed each hanger on the section 10 forward the appropriate distance. This operation is repeated regularly and after being dipped, the goods are carried forward by th'e drive chain through the drying oven 35 and thence through the priming oven 36. These ovens can be of any conventional or apkind and obviously they may represent compartments of any character or number through which it is desirable to-carry the dipped goods.

I claim:

1. A structure of the kind described, comprising a drive chain, a goods han er extending transversely of the drive cham, jaws on the goods hanger, jaws at a definite point, and an elevator actlng at the opening of the jaws to lower the hanger.

2. A structure of the kind described, comprising a drive chain, a goods hanger, hanger engagmg jaws carried by the drive chain, means for opening the jaws to release the hanger, and an elevator acting at the opening of the jaws to move the hanger.

3. A structure of the kind described, comprising a drive chain, a goods hanger extendof the drive chain, means for guiding the hanger, jaws on the drive chain engaging the hanger, means `for releasing the jaws at a definite point, and an elevator acting at the opening of they jaws to carry the hanger.

4; A structure of the kind described, comprising vparallel spaced trolleys, a drive chain continuously moving between the trolleys, a

the drive chain engaging hanger bar connectmg the trolleys, jaws on the drive 'chain to engage the hanger bar,

means for releasing the jaws at a denite place, and an elevator acting at the releasingof the jaws to carry the trolleys and hanger bar.

5. A structureA of the kind described, com- I prisin spaced parallel trolley tracks having separa le sectlons, hanger b'ars connected tol trolleys running on said tracks, a continuously movlng drive chain spaced at a point veron the drive goods previously sub.

chain to engage the hanger bars, means for releasing the jaws as the trolleys come on to the' movable track sections, and elevators for raising and lowering the track sections.

6. A structure of the kind described, comprising a continuously moving drive chain, hanger bars arranged to extend transversely of the drive chain, jaws'on the drive chain to engage the hanger bars, a tank spaced below the hanger bars and drive cham, means for releasing the jaws from the hanger bars at a point above the tank, and an elevator acting to 'lower the hanger bars and raise them between the tank and the drive chain jaws.

-7. In a structure of the kind described, a drive chain comprising pivotally connected links, jaws pivoted at the pivotal connection between the links and arranged in pairs to engage an article, one jaw of a palr being pivotally mounted at one end of a link and the other jaw of the pair being lpivotally mounted at the other end of the same link, a trippingv abutment adjacent the drive chain, and arms connected to the jaws and disposed to engage the tripping abutment to open the jaws.

8. A structure of the kind described, comprism carrie by the drive chain, means for opening the jaws to release the hangers, an elevator acting at the opening of-the jaws to move the hangers, and spacing means engaging the han ers and acting to change their spaced relatlon as the hangers are delivered to the elevator.-

9. An apparatus of the kind described, l

withl respect to the drive chain, and spacing means acting independently of the 'elevator to change the spaced relation of the hangers as they enterthe elevator.

10. In an apparatus of the kind described, comprising a drive chain, goods carrying hangers operated by the drive chain, anelevator to raise and lower the said hangers with respect to the drive chain, a movable slide frame opposite the elevator, and means connected to the slide frame and engaging the aforesaid hangers to change the spaced relation of the hangers as they enter the elevator. j

11. A structure of the kind described, oomprising a drive chain, goods carrying hangers' movable by the drive chain, an elevator to lower and raise the said hangers with respect' a drive chain, hanger engaging jaws 12. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a drive chain, goods carrying hangers movable by the said drive chain, an elevator to raise and lower the said hangers with respect to the drive chain', a manually controlled spacing means arranged adjacent the elevator and acting to engage the said hangers and change their spaced relation as the enter the elevator.

151,1 testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 24th day Aor' May, 1930.

BURT S. HARRISON.

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