Chain System For The Selection And Separation Of Objects

Abstract

Objects carried in a single row on a first moving surface are arranged into two rows thereon or are selectively transferred to a second moving surface by partition means carried by thrusters. The thrusters are fixed on a movable transmission member and a cam follower carried by each thruster is diverted from a first cam run into a second cam run by switching means when it is desired to arrange the objects into two rows or to transfer selected ones from the first to the second moving surface.

Description

The present invention relates to a system for the selection and separation of objects in a continuous or chain motion, which allows the machine to operate at high speeds without overturning or shaking the objects violently, having a smooth and continuous function in spite of these high speeds. The system is based upon the use of an endless chain having one reach parallel to the surface in motion, which carries the objects which are to be selected, such endless chain having partitions which in the conflux of said partitions with the displacement axis of the transporting surface determine that the objects remain in the interior of a chamber formed by said partitions, the objects placed upon the moving surface being automaticaly separated from each other; such partitions also having means for chain separating objects which must be separated from those that advance upon the surface in motion towards the final run, placing them on another contiguous surface which can also be in motion.

Therefore, it is obvious that with this system one can attain high selection and separating speeds in a chain of objects, with a perfect position in working conditions.

For a correct understanding, the following example is described, of practical use, as a non limitative example of the invention, adjoining a page of drawings in which the development of the system is shown in plan and in a schematic manner.

The invention is that parallel to the moving surface 11 which carries the objects to be selected, there is an endless transmission member or chain 1 provided with partitions 2, which, once the objects 10 enter each one of the partitions 2, remain separated individually and are carried towards the final point of the run, except those which have been selected previously, and by convenient means switching, and are separated from the moving surface 8 and taken towards another surface 9, which can be in motion parallel to the last.

The separation means are made up by some thrustors 3 which are perpendicular to the motion of the objects 10, said thrustors 3, which are attached to the endless chain 1, are actioned when desired by means of a convenient switching means 7 which can be electric, mechanical, hidraulic, automatic or any other appropriate means, and are set in a progressive emergence motion by means of a appropriate cam run 4.

The separation devices are provided with recuperators 5 which recover the initial starting positions, once the ejection cycle has been completed.

When the moving surface 11 with the objects 10 is only one, and it carries both the objects 10 which have not been rejected to the final point of the run and those which have been rejected to the deposit or to the outlet of the circuit, then the one moving surface 11 has a longitudinal partition 6 which separates both areas of the same surface 11.

Having largely described the nature of the invention, and also its practical application, it is hereby stated that the same can be subjected to modifications of its details, without altering its main principle which is the nature of the invention.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for selecting and separating objects, comprising: a first moving surface adapted to support a row of objects; a second moving surface disposed adjacent said first moving surface; a moving endless transmission member having one reach moving in the same direction as said first moving surface; a plurality of spaced-apart thrusters carried by said endless transmission member; partition means on each of said thrusters, the partition means on said one reach being spaced a short distance above the surface of said first and second moving surfaces and each partition means being movable by its corresponding thruster between a position over said first moving surface and a position over said second moving surface; a first cam run having a flight thereof extending parallel to said first moving surface; a second cam run diverging at its entrance end from said flight of the first cam run and extending toward said first moving surface, the exit end of said second cam run converging with said first cam run; a cam run follower carried by each of said thrusters and disposed in one of said cam runs; and switching means located in said flight of the first cam run at the entrance of said second cam run, said switching means being movable to direct said cam run followers into said first cam run or into said second cam run, said cam run followers when following said second cam run, moving the corresponding thruster toward said second moving surface and moving an object engaged by its partition means from said first moving surface to said second moving surface.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said first and second moving surfaces are parallel.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said transmission member comprises a chain.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said second moving surface is moving in the same direction as said first moving surface.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the motion imparted to the thrusters by the respective cam run follower is rectilinear.

6. Apparatus for selecting objects from a moving row and separating them into two rows, comprising: a moving surface adapted to support a row of objects; a moving endless transmission member having one reach moving in the same direction as said moving surface; a plurality of spaced-apart thrusters carried by said endless transmission member; partition means on each of said thrusters, the partition means on said one reach being spaced a short distance above the surface of said moving surface and each partition means being movable by its corresponding thruster between a retracted position over a first portion of said moving surface and a projected position over a second portion of said moving surface; a first fixed cam run having a flight thereof extending parallel to said moving surface; a second fixed cam run diverging at its entrance end from said flight of the first cam run and extending toward said moving surface, the exit end of said second cam run converging with said first cam run; a cam run follower carried by each of said thrusters and disposed in one of said cam runs; and switching means located in said flight of the first cam run at the entrance of said second cam run, said switching means being movable to direct said cam run followers into said first cam run or into said second cam run, said cam run followers when following said second cam run, moving the corresponding thruster and its partition means toward said projected position over said second portion of the moving surface and moving an object engaged by its partition means from said first portion to said second portion of the moving surface.