US3725867A — A selective control system for dispatching articl…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 311 words

A control system for an object routing apparatus for controlling diverting of objects from a conveyor, said system comprising: main storage means for providing distinct storage locations for at least one count representation for each of a plurality of objects to be successively routed, said at least one count representation comprising a first count representation predetermining the number of intervals which is to elapse between a predetermined point and a further point at which an action is to be initiated by which the object is to be diverted from the conveyor, and at least one action representation by which the action to be initiated is to be identified. said at least one action representation comprising a first action representation representing a diverting action whereby an object is diverted from the conveyor; means for successively recording a said first count representation in said storage locations in said main storage means for each of said plurality of objects and for recording a said first action representation in said storage locations in said storage means by which the action to be initiated is to be identified; means responsive to the elapsing of successive of said intervals for reading out said first count representations from the corresponding storage locations, for decrementing said first count representations and for reading said first count representations back into said storage locations; comparison means for comparing the decremented first count representations with a predetermined reference and for producing an output signal when a decremented count matches said predetermined reference; response means, responsive to the said output signal produced by said comparison means, for selecting a diverting action to be initiated at said further point when a first decremented count representation produces a match; and diverting means, located at said further point, for diverting an object from the conveyor at said further point responsive to the selection of a diverting action.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 311 words

A control system for an object routing apparatus for controlling diverting of objects from a conveyor, said system comprising: main storage means for providing distinct storage locations for at least one count representation for each of a plurality of objects to be successively routed, said at least one count representation comprising a first count representation predetermining the number of intervals which is to elapse between a predetermined point and a further point at which an action is to be initiated by which the object is to be diverted from the conveyor, and at least one action representation by which the action to be initiated is to be identified. said at least one action representation comprising a first action representation representing a diverting action whereby an object is diverted from the conveyor; means for successively recording a said first count representation in said storage locations in said main storage means for each of said plurality of objects and for recording a said first action representation in said storage locations in said storage means by which the action to be initiated is to be identified; means responsive to the elapsing of successive of said intervals for reading out said first count representations from the corresponding storage locations, for decrementing said first count representations and for reading said first count representations back into said storage locations; comparison means for comparing the decremented first count representations with a predetermined reference and for producing an output signal when a decremented count matches said predetermined reference; response means, responsive to the said output signal produced by said comparison means, for selecting a diverting action to be initiated at said further point when a first decremented count representation produces a match; and diverting means, located at said further point, for diverting an object from the conveyor at said further point responsive to the selection of a diverting action.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 203 words

A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said recording means comprises means for recording a second count representation in said storage means for each of said plurality of objects, said second count representation determining the number of intervals which is to elapse between the passing of the object between said predetermined point and a point at which a further action is to be initiated, and for recording in said storage means a second action representation by which the action to be initiated is identifiable, said second action representation representing a closing action whereby diverting of an object from the conveyor is prevented, said decrementing means decrementing said second count representation responsive to the elapsing of said successive intervals, said comparison means comparing the decremented second count representations with a further predetermined reference and producing a further output signal when a decremented second count matches said further reference, said response means acting responsive to the further output signal produced by said comparison means to select a closing action when a second decremented count representation produces a match, and said diverting means preventing an object from being diverted from said conveyor at said further point responsive to the selection of a closing action.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 97 words

A control system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising buffer storage means for storing the count and action representations pertaining to a last object, further comparison means for comparing an action representation stored in said buffer storage means with the action representation pertaining to a present object and, in the event of these said action representations being the same, retaining the count and action representations in said buffer storage means, and means for applying the count representation and action representation from said buffer storage means to said main storage means when said action representations are different.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 52 words

A control system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said recording means includes independent count representation generating means for generating independent count representations so that the count representations pertaining to different first and second actions are independently predeterminable so as to take account of operating characteristics of a selected said diverting means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 107 words

A control system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising an input scanner comprising a clock signal generator for producing a clock signal the frequency of which is high in relation to that of said intervals, means responsive to said clock signals from said generator for alternately scanning two inputs one of which corresponds to the passage of an object past said predetermined point and the other of which corresponds to successive said elapsed intervals, and means for discretely initiating an output signal in which representations pertaining to an object are recorded in said storage means or an output signal in which said decrementing is effected, respectively.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 62 words

A control system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said diverting means comprises gate means which open responsive to the first action representation being selected by said responsive means to permit the discharge of objects from the conveyor and which close responsive to the second action representation being selected by said responsive means to prevent the discharge of objects from the conveyor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 88 words

A control system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said main storage means comprises a magnetic core store, said recording means comprising an address counter for recording the count representations in alternate addresses and representations of actions in intervening addresses, the intervening addresses being arranged to store representations of means for performing actions and the respective action, and the alternate addresses being arranged to have recorded therein the representations of the action to be performed by the action performing means identifiable by representations stored in respective intervening addresses.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-04-02	1976-10-02	1977-04-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-04-02	1980-10-02	1981-04-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-04-02	1984-10-02	1985-04-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

A selective control system for dispatching articles on a conveyor

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