Abstract:
The can counter slide of the present invention comprises an elongated slide having a plurality of V-shaped grooves extending longitudinally therein. The slide is inclined so that the cans, when placed on the slide, will fit within the grooves and slide downwardly toward the lower end. At the lower end are a plurality of photo-electric cells, one for each of the V-shaped grooves. These photo-electric cells sense and count each can as it slides off the lower end of the slide. A vibrator can be applied to the slide to cause the slide to vibrate and thereby enhance the ability of the cans to slide downwardly in the V-shaped grooves. Also, a rotating brush can be provided adjacent the lower end of the slide to cause each of the cans to speed up and thereby separate from the other cans in the V-shaped groove, just prior to the time that the cans encounter the photo-electric cells.
Abstract:
In a mass conveying system a variable branch of an electrical bridge network is sensitive to changes in the numerical density of articles within a predetermined portion of the system. The bridge network is responsive to an imbalance therein to generate a signal corresponding to the imbalance. Means responsive to the signal act to control delivery of articles to the system.
Abstract:
A machine for counting flat articles includes a sequence of conveyor belts driven at successively increasing speeds from input to output. At the input end the articles are stacked and withdrawn from the stack from the bottom. A separator above the conveyor isolates the bodies from each other and spaces them, the spacing being increased by the increasing speed of the conveyors as the articles move toward the output end. The articles are counted by a photocell device or feeler. A receiver arranges the articles in a layered arrangement. Band-shaped resilient, curved clamping members are mounted on the separator to assure separation of articles of varying thicknesses, a first set of clamping members being mounted on the outside of the separator and curving in the direction of conveyance and a second set being mounted on the inside and curving in the direction of conveyance under the separator. An eccentric adjusts the curvature and tension of the first set of clamping members.
Abstract:
An egg transporting system for receiving eggs from a plurality of egg belt conveyors leading from cages of a poultry installation receives eggs on an input side and transfers them to an opposite side of the system to an accumulation conveyor. The transporting system includes an elevator having a plurality of generally U-shaped egg transporting cradles with asymmetric legs for receiving and cradling eggs at the input side and holding and transferring eggs on the discharge side while providing a smooth transition of the egg from one leg to the other as the eggs are moved from one side of the vertical elevator to the other side. A plurality of the cradles are mounted adjacent one another to cross bars extending between endless loop drives with vertically spaced rows of cradles in abutting contact to present substantially continuous egg receiving openings to the belt conveyors. In one embodiment, the conveyor has an inclined input end to facilitate transfer of eggs into the cradles and improved mounting system for simplifying the attachment of the egg conveyors to the input side of the elevator. In some embodiments, an improved egg counting assembly is mounted to the output side of the elevator for singulating and counting the eggs collected by the system and transferred onto the main conveyor.
Abstract:
This specification describes an article/time/persons working recording system for manufacturing facilities which provides a central, continuously up-dated running account of all people hours worked in the manufacturing facility in a given interval of time, the number of people working and the number of articles produced. Additionally, if desired the recording system can identify the number of people working at a particular assembly line or other work stations together with the total number of hours being worked at that station or assembly line and the number of articles being produced by the assembly line in the given interval of time. With this information, an accurate and readily obtained up-to-date figure for the number of articles produced per work hour and/or the number of articles produced per person for the entire facility and/or any given assembly line, is instantaneously available for accounting purposes for anytime during or after a work day.