Transfer apparatus for exchanging articles between two conveyors

Claim 2

Transfer apparatus for exchanging articles arranged in a line along a first endless conveyor with articles arranged in n equals two or more lines along a second conveyor, including means for advancing each conveyor step by step by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the articles in a line on it, a step of the second conveyor being effected only at each nth step of the first conveyor, and means for exchanging articles between the first and second conveyor in a cycle such that an article on the first conveyor is exchanged for an article in one line on the second conveyor, the first conveyor is then advanced a step, and the next article in the same line on the first conveyor is then exchanged for an article in a different line on the second conveyor.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each conveyor is provided with one or more lifters which can be moved upwards through holes in the conveyor to lift an article to a carrieR or lower it from a carrier.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 for exchanging articles arranged in one or more lines along a first conveyor of endless chain type with articles arranged in twice as many lines along a second conveyor, also of endless chain type, arranged in line with the first conveyor end to end, a step of the second conveyor only being effected with alternate steps of the first conveyor, the exchanging means including means for transferring articles from a line of the first conveyor to one of two passing positions which are laterally spaced from one another between the conveyors, and thence to one line of the second conveyor while transferring an article from the said line of the second conveyor to the other passing position, and thence to the said line of the first conveyor and thereafter transferring an article from the same line of the first conveyor to one of the passing positions and thence to another line of the second conveyor, while transferring an article from the said other line of the second conveyor to the other passing position and thence to the same line of the first conveyor.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including two carriers arranged to reciprocate horizontally in opposite directions between the two conveyors so that while one carries an article from the first conveyor to the second conveyor the other carries an article from the second conveyor to the first conveyor, the paths of the carriers being chosen so as to avoid one another.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which each carrier is supported by a carriage mounted to travel in a direction parallel to the length of the conveyor, the carrier being mounted to move transversely relatively to the carriage to align itself with either line of articles on the second conveyor and to avoid collision with the companion carrier.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the two carriages are connected to the two runs of an endless belt so as to be simultaneously moved in opposite directions.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the transverse movement of a carrier is controlled by a cam follower cooperating with a stationary cam rail extending in the direction of movement of the carriage, at least a part of the cam rail being movable to modify the transverse movement of the carrier so as to pick up or deliver articles to or from different lines in the second conveyor in alternate steps.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the two movable cam rails associated with carriers which pass one another on each movement of the carriages are attached to a common transverse carriage.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which each movable cam rail is associated with a fixed cam rail which in one position of the movable cam rail forms the sole guide for the cam follower.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the movable cam rail extends along half the distance of travel of the carriages and in one position forms a continuation of the fixed rail at the center.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the cam rails for a pair of carriers comprise fixed cam rails having portions operative irrespective of the position of any movable portions for guiding one carrier between the position of an article on the first conveyor and a first passing position, and the other carrier between the said position of such an article and a second passing position.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which each fixed cam rail has a further portion which is straight and serves to guide the respective carrier from the position of an article in one or other line on the second conveyor and one or other passing position which is aligned therewith, and which includes movable cam rails one or other of which is advanced to mark the associated straight fixed portion and is curved to guide its carrier between the same passing position and the position of an article on the second conveyor in a line not in line with the said passing position.

Claim 14

ApparatUs as claimed in claim 11 in which one of the passing positions is aligned with that of articles on the first conveyor and the fixed portion of the cam rail guiding a carrier between those positions is also straight.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which each carrier is mounted on a pivoted arm, the pivotal axis of which lies in the vertical central plane between the two longitudinal lines of articles of the second conveyor.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which the pivotal axis of the arm is vertical.

Claim 17

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 arranged to exchange articles arranged in two longitudinal lines on the first conveyor with articles arranged in four longitudinal lines on the second conveyor.

Claim 18

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 including four carriers carried in pairs by two carriages one of which forms a bridge below which the other can pass.

Claim 19

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which each carrier is associated with one longitudinal line of articles on the first conveyor and two longitudinal lines of articles on the second conveyor on one side of its longitudinal central plane.

Claim 20

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 including two separate transverse carriages moving in opposite directions and associated respectively with the carriers on opposite sides of the longitudinal central plane.

Claim 21

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which cam rails for guiding a pair of carriers comprise fixed cam rails having portions operative irrespective of the position of any movable portions for guiding one carrier between the position of an article on the first conveyor and a first passing position, and the other carrier between the said position of such an article and a second passing position, and in which two inner lifters can reciprocate vertically alternately with two outer lifters of the second conveyor.

Claim 22

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which each conveyor is provided with one or more lifters which can be moved upwards through holes in the conveyor to lift an article to a carrier or lower it from a carrier.

Claim 23

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including two carriers arranged to reciprocate in opposite directions between the two conveyors so that while one carries an article from the first conveyor to the second conveyor the other carries an article from the second conveyor to the first conveyor, the paths of the carriers being chosen so as to avoid one another.

Claim 24

A conveyor system for conveying molds for ceramic blanks past a molding machine and a drier, including a first conveyor on which the molds are arranged in one or more longitudinal lines, a second conveyor on which they are arranged in a greater number of longitudinal lines, and, for exchanging molds between the two conveyors, transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

Claim 25

A system as claimed in claim 23 in which the second conveyor has four longitudinal lines of molds, and the first conveyor has two such rows spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the outermost rows on the second conveyor.