Magnetic flow director

Claim 2

In a mechanism comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path, at least one article carrier supported by said conveyor for independent movement thereon transversely of said path, continuously operable magnetic means fixed adjacent said conveyor and having an elongated guide surface arranged to extend from adjacent one region of said conveyor in a diverging direction relative to the direction of movement of said conveyor into another region spaced transversely of said path from said one region, each said carrier having a portion attractable by said magnetic means upon engagement of said carrier therewith, and selectively operable means for deflecting said carrier transversely of said path from a line of travel within said one region for engagement with said guide surface adjacent said one region, said magnetic means tending to magnetically constrain said carrier when engaged for movement along said guide surface from said one region to said other region upon movement of said conveyor along said path, the improvement in combination wherein: said guide surface includes upstream and downstream surface portions relative to the direction of conveyor movement, said upstream surface portion being arranged adjacent said one region for initial magnetic engagement by said deflected carrier and extending substantially co-directionally with said path, the distance between said upstream surface portion and said attractable portion of said carrier when moving along said line of travel being sufficient to prevent said magnetic means from magnetically attracting said attractable portion thereto, and said downstream surface portion extending from said upstream surface portion in a diverging direction relative to the direction of conveyor movement into said other region.

Claim 3

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic means is a permanent magnet device, said guide surface is defined by at least one pole piece of said magnet device, and said attractable portion is a roller journalled on said carrier and engageable with said pole piece.

Claim 4

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein separator means is arranged adjacent said magnet means intermediate opposite ends of said downstream portion of said guide surface for selectively separating said carrier from engagement therewith in at least one further region intermediate said one and said other regions.

Claim 5

The improvement according to claim 3, wherein means are provided to adjustably position said separator means lengthwise of said downstream portion of said guide surface thereby to vary the spacing of said further region from said one region in a direction transversely of said path.

Claim 6

The improvement according to claim 3, wherein said separator means includes a non-magnetic member and means to selectively move said member into the path of movement of said carrier along said guide surface thereby to disengage said carrier therefrom in said further region.

Claim 7

In a mechanism comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path, at least one article carrier supported by said conveyor for independent movement thereon transversely of said path, a pair of continuously operable magnetic means fixed adjacent said conveyor and having elongated guide surfaces arranged to extend from adjacent opposite sides of said one region of said conveyor in directions outwardly diverging relative to the direction of movement of said conveyor into other regions spaced transversely of said path from said one region, means upstream of said magnetic means in the direction of conveYor movement for positioning said carrier for movement along a line of travel within said one region substantially equally spaced transversely of said path from said magnetic means, each said carrier having a portion attractable by said magnetic means upon engagement of said carrier therewith, and selectively operable means for deflecting said carrier transversely of said path from said line of travel for positioning said attractable portion thereof in engagement with said guide surface of a selected one of said magnetic means adjacent said one region, said selected one of said magnetic means tending to magnetically constrain said carrier when engaged for movement along said guide surface thereof transversely of said path from said one region into an associated other region upon movement of said conveyor along said path, the improvement in combination wherein: each of said guide surfaces include upstream and downstream surface portions relative to the direction of conveyor movement, said upstream surface portions being substantially parallel and arranged adjacent opposite sides of said one region for initial magnetic engagement by said deflected carrier and extending substantially co-directionally with said path, the distance between each said upstream surface portion and said attractable portion of said carrier when moving along said line of travel being sufficient to prevent said magnetic means from magnetically attracting said attractable portion thereto, and said downstream surface portions extending from said upstream surface portions associated therewith in a relatively diverging relationship in the direction of conveyor movement into said other regions.

Claim 8

In a mechanism comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path, at least one article carrier supported by said conveyor for independent movement thereon transversely of said path, a pair of continuously operable magnetic means fixed adjacent said conveyor and having elongated guide surfaces arranged to extend from adjacent opposite sides of said one region of said conveyor in directions outwardly diverging relative to the direction of movement of said conveyor into other regions spaced transversely of said path from said one region, means upstream of said magnetic means in the direction of conveYor movement for positioning said carrier for movement along a line of travel within said one region substantially equally spaced transversely of said path from said magnetic means, each said carrier having a portion attractable by said magnetic means upon engagement of said carrier therewith, and selectively operable means for deflecting said carrier transversely of said path from said line of travel for positioning said attractable portion thereof in engagement with said guide surface of a selected one of said magnetic means adjacent said one region, said selected one of said magnetic means tending to magnetically constrain said carrier when engaged for movement along said guide surface thereof transversely of said path from said one region into an associated other region upon movement of said conveyor along said path, the improvement in combination wherein: each of said guide surfaces include upstream and downstream surface portions relative to the direction of conveyor movement, said upstream surface portions being substantially parallel and arranged adjacent opposite sides of said one region for initial magnetic engagement by said deflected carrier and extending substantially co-directionally with said path, the distance between each said upstream surface portion and said attractable portion of said carrier when moving along said line of travel being sufficient to prevent said magnetic means from magnetically attracting said attractable portion thereto, and said downstream surface portions extending from said upstream surface portions associated therewith in a relatively diverging relationship in the direction of conveyor movement into said other regions.

Claim 9

A mechanism according to claim 6, wherein each said magnetic means is a permanent magnet device and each said guide surface is defined by at least one pole piece of one of said magnet devices.

Claim 10

A flow directing mechanism comprising in combination: a conveyor movable along a predetermined path; at least one article carrier supported by said conveyor for independent movement thereon transversely of said path, said article carrier having a magnetically attractable portion; at least one magnet device fixed adjacent said conveyor, said device defining an elongated guide surface having upstream and downstream surface portions relative to the direction of conveyor movement, said upstream surface portion being arranged adjacent one region of said conveyor and extending substantially co-directionally with said path, said downstream portion extending from said upstream surface portion in a diverging direction relative to the direction of conveyor movement into another region spaced transversely of said path from said one region, said device attracting said portion of said article carrier upon engagement of said carrier with said guide surface, whereby to magnetically constrain an engaged carrier for movement along said guide surface from said one region to said other region upon movement of said conveyor along said path; and at least one electromagnetic means fixed adjacent said conveyor relatively upstream of said device, said electromagnetic means including a guide surface, said electromagnetic means being selectively operable to attract said portion of said article carrier for deflecting said carrier transversely of said path into engagement with said guide surface thereof, a relatively downstream portion of the last said guide surface being arranged in alignment with said upstream surface portion in the direction of conveyor movement.

Claim 11

A flow directing mechanism comprising in combination: a conveyor movable along a predetermined path; at least one article carrier supported by said conveyor for independent movement thereon transversely of said path, said article carrier having a magnetically attractable portion; at least one magnet device fixed adjacent said conveyor, said device defining an elongated guide surface having upstream and downstream surface portions relative to the direction of conveyor movement, said upstream surface portion being arranged adjacent one region of said conveyor and extending substantially co-directionally with said path, said downstream portion extending from said upstream surface portion in a diverging direction relative to the direction of conveyor movement into another region spaced transversely of said path from said one region, said device attracting said portion of said article carrier upon engagement of said carrier with said guide surface, whereby to magnetically constrain an engaged carrier for movement along said guide surface from said one region to said other region upon movement of said conveyor along said path; and at least one electromagnetic means fixed adjacent said conveyor relatively upstream of said device, said electromagnetic means including a guide surface, said electromagnetic means being selectively operable to attract said portion of said article carrier for deflecting said carrier transversely of said path into engagement with said guide surface thereof, a relatively downstream portion of the last said guide surface being arranged in alignment with said upstream surface portion in the direction of conveyor movement.

Claim 12

A mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said electromagnetic means guide surface also includes upstream and intermediate surface portions, said upstream and downstream surface portions of said electromagnetic means being arranged in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship, and said intermediate surface portion being of double curvature configuration.

Claim 13

A mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said electromagnetic means guide surface alsO includes an upstream surface portion and an intermediate surface portion joining said upstream and downstream surface portions thereof, said upstream and downstream surface portions of said electromagnetic means being arranged in a spaced substantially parallel relationship, and wherein a plurality of article carriers are provided in combination, said article carriers being spaced apart in the direction of conveyor movement and the distance between said portions of adjacent article carriers is equal to or greater than the length of said intermediate surface portion measured in a direction aligned with said path of conveyor movement.

Claim 14

A mechanism according to claim 8, wherein a pair of magnet devices and a pair of electromagnetic means are provided in combination, said upstream surface portions of said devices being arranged in substantially parallel relationship and adjacent opposite sides of said one region, said downstream surface portions of said devices being arranged in relatively outwardly diverging relationship in the direction of conveyor movement, and said pair of electromagnetic means being selectively operable for deflecting said carrier transversely of said path for engagement with a selected one of said upstream surface portions of said devices.

Claim 15

A mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said guide surface of each said electromagnetic means also includes an upstream and an intermediate surface portion joining said upstream surface and said downstream portions thereof, said upstream and downstream surface portions of each said electromagnetic means being arranged in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship, the spacing between said downstream surface portions of said pair of electromagnetic means being greater than the spacing between said upstream surface portions thereof; and wherein a plurality of article carriers are provided in combination, said article carriers being spaced apart in the direction of conveyor movement and the distance between said portions of adjacent article carriers is equal to or greater than the length of said intermediate surface portion measured in a direction aligned with said path of conveyor movement.

Claim 16

A mechanism according to claim 8, wherein at least one separator means is arranged adjacent said magnet device intermediate opposite ends of said guide surface downstream portion thereof for selectively separating said carrier from engagement therewith in at least one further region intermediate said one and said other regions.

Claim 17

A mechanism according to claim 13, wherein said separator means is adjustable lengthwise of said guide surface downstream portion thereby to vary the spacing of said further region from said one region in a direction transversely of said path.

Claim 18

A mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said magnet device is a permanent magnet, and a plurality of groups of said magnet devices and electromagnetic means are provided in combination and said groups are arranged serially of said path of travel, said downstream surface portion of a magnet device of a first of said groups delivering into said other region, said electromagnetic means of a second of said groups being selectively operable for deflecting said carrier presented in said other region transversely of said path in a direction away from said one region for engagement with said upstream guide surface portion of its associated magnet device.

Claim 19

A mechanism according to claim 8, wherein adjacent ends of said upstream surface portion and said downstream portion of said last said guide surface are spaced apart in the direction of conveyor movement.

Claim 20

A mechanism according to claim 16, wherein said magnet device is a permanent magnet device.

Claim 21

In a mechanism comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path, at least one article carrier supported by said conveyor for independent movement thereon transversely of said path, magnetic means fixed adjacent said conveyor and having an elongated guide surface arranged tO extend from adjacent one region of said conveyor in a diverging direction relative to the direction of movement of said conveyor into another region spaced transversely of said path from said one region, each said carrier having a portion attractable by said magnetic means upon engagement of said carrier therewith, whereby upon engagement of said carrier with said guide surface adjacent said one region said magnetic means tends to magnetically constrain said carrier for movement along said guide surface from adjacent said one region to said other region upon movement of said conveyor, the improvement comprising: at least one separator means arranged intermediate opposite ends of said guide surface, said separator means being selectively operable to separate said carrier from engagement with said guide surface in a further region arranged intermediate said one and said other regions.

Claim 22

In a mechanism comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path, at least one article carrier supported by said conveyor for independent movement thereon transversely of said path, magnetic means fixed adjacent said conveyor and having an elongated guide surface arranged tO extend from adjacent one region of said conveyor in a diverging direction relative to the direction of movement of said conveyor into another region spaced transversely of said path from said one region, each said carrier having a portion attractable by said magnetic means upon engagement of said carrier therewith, whereby upon engagement of said carrier with said guide surface adjacent said one region said magnetic means tends to magnetically constrain said carrier for movement along said guide surface from adjacent said one region to said other region upon movement of said conveyor, the improvement comprising: at least one separator means arranged intermediate opposite ends of said guide surface, said separator means being selectively operable to separate said carrier from engagement with said guide surface in a further region arranged intermediate said one and said other regions.

Claim 23

A mechanism according to claim 18, wherein said separator means is adjustable lengthwise of said guide surface thereby to vary the spacing of said further region from said one region in a direction transversely of said path.

Claim 24

A mechanism according to claim 18, wherein said separator means includes a non-magnetic member and means to selectively move said member into the path of movement of said carrier along said guide surface thereby to disengage said carrier therefrom in said further region.

Claim 25

A flow directing mechanism comprising in combination: an endless conveyor movable along a predetermined path and having upper and lower runs; a plurality of article carriers spaced apart in the direction of said path and supported by said conveyor for independent movement thereon transversely of said path, each said carrier having a magnetically attractable portion; a magnet device extending along one of said runs and defining an elongated guide surface having upstream and downstream surface portions relative to the direction of conveyor movement, said upstream surface portion being arranged adjacent one region of said conveyor and extending substantially co-directionally with said path, said downstream portion extending from said upstream surface portion in a diverging direction relative to said path into a discharge region spaced transversely of said one region, said device attracting said portion of said carrier upon engagement of said carrier with said guide surface whereby normally tending to magnetically constrain said engaged carrier for movement along said guide surface from adjacent said one region to said discharge region upon movement of said conveyor along said path; at least one separator means for separating selective ones of said carriers from engagement with said guide surface in a further discharge region spaced from said discharge region in a direction transversely of said path towards said one region, whereby to selectively establish at least two lines for travel of said carriers along said one run of said conveyor downstream of said magnet device; and means including means arranged along an other of said runs for gathering together said carriers traveling along said lines of travel into a single line and for positioning at least some of said carriers from said single line in engagement with said upstream portion of said guide surface.

Claim 26

A flow directing mechanism comprising in combination: an endless conveyor movable along a predetermined path and having upper and lower runs; a plurality of article carriers spaced apart in the direction of said path and supported by said conveyor for independent movement thereon transversely of said path, each said carrier having a magnetically attractable portion; a magnet device extending along one of said runs and defining an elongated guide surface having upstream and downstream surface portions relative to the direction of conveyor movement, said upstream surface portion being arranged adjacent one region of said conveyor and extending substantially co-directionally with said path, said downstream portion extending from said upstream surface portion in a diverging direction relative to said path into a discharge region spaced transversely of said one region, said device attracting said portion of said carrier upon engagement of said carrier with said guide surface whereby normally tending to magnetically constrain said engaged carrier for movement along said guide surface from adjacent said one region to said discharge region upon movement of said conveyor along said path; at least one separator means for separating selective ones of said carriers from engagement with said guide surface in a further discharge region spaced from said discharge region in a direction transversely of said path towards said one region, whereby to selectively establish at least two lines for travel of said carriers along said one run of said conveyor downstream of said magnet device; and means including means arranged along an other of said runs for gathering together said carriers traveling along said lines of travel into a single line and for positioning at least some of said carriers from said single line in engagement with said upstream portion of said guide surface.

Claim 27

A mechanism according to claim 21, wherein said magnet means extends along said upper run thereby to permit said mechanism to be employed to diverge articles passing along a single input selectively into at least two essentially parallel outputs, said input being substantially aligned with said single line, and said outputs being substantially aligned with said carrier lines of travel.

Claim 28

A mechanism according to claim 21, wherein said magnet means extends along said lower run thereby to permit said mechanism to be employed to converge articles passing along at least two inputs into a single output, said inputs being substantially aligned with said carrier lines of travel and said output being suBstantially aligned with said single line.

Claim 29

A mechanism according to claim 21, wherein said means for positioning carriers in engagement with said magnet means includes means selectively operable to displace said carriers transversely of said conveyor path of travel from said single line for engagement with said upstream portion of said guide surface, carriers not displaced from said single line passing along said one run along a third line of travel parallel to said two lines of travel.

Claim 30

A mechanism according to claim 21, wherein said means for positioning carriers positions all of said carriers in said single line for engagement with said upstream portion of said guide surface, and said separator means is arranged to separate carriers at the junction of said upstream and downstream surface portions, whereby said further discharge region is said one region and one of said lines of travel is aligned with said single line.

Claim 31

A flow directing mechanism comprising in combination: an endless conveyor movable along a predetermined path and having upper and lower runs: a plurality of article carriers spaced apart in the direction of said path and supported by said conveyor for independent movement thereon transversely of said path, each said article carrier having a magnetically attractable portion; means arranged along one of said runs for positioning all of said attractable portions of said carriers in one region of said conveyor when presented adjacent one end of said conveyor; selectively operable electromagnetic means arranged along another of said runs for attracting said attractable portion of selected ones of said carriers for deflecting same from said one region transversely of said path during passage thereof along said other run, said electromagnetic means including a guide surface engageable by said deflected carriers, at least a downstream end portion of said guide surface relative to the direction of conveyor movement being co-directional with said path of travel and being spaced transversely of said conveyor relative to the path of travel of non-deflected ones of said carriers; and a magnet device extending along said other run downstream of said electromagnetic means in the direction of conveyor movement, said magnet device including an elongated guide surface engageable by said deflected carriers, said guide surface of said device including an upstream surface portion arranged in alignment with said downstream end portion of said electromagnetic means in the direction of conveyor movement and a downstream surface portion extending from said upstream surface portion thereof in a diverging direction relative to the direction of conveyor movement into an other region spaced transversely of said path from said one region, said magnet device attracting said attractable portion of said deflected carriers for further deflecting same transversely of said path away from said one region towards said other region when in engagement with said guide surface thereof.

Claim 32

A flow directing mechanism comprising in combination: an endless conveyor movable along a predetermined path and having upper and lower runs: a plurality of article carriers spaced apart in the direction of said path and supported by said conveyor for independent movement thereon transversely of said path, each said article carrier having a magnetically attractable portion; means arranged along one of said runs for positioning all of said attractable portions of said carriers in one region of said conveyor when presented adjacent one end of said conveyor; selectively operable electromagnetic means arranged along another of said runs for attracting said attractable portion of selected ones of said carriers for deflecting same from said one region transversely of said path during passage thereof along said other run, said electromagnetic means including a guide surface engageable by said deflected carriers, at least a downstream end portion of said guide surface relative to the direction of conveyor movement being co-directional with said path of travel and being spaced transversely of said conveyor relative to the path of travel of non-deflected ones of said carriers; and a magnet device extending along said other run downstream of said electromagnetic means in the direction of conveyor movement, said magnet device including an elongated guide surface engageable by said deflected carriers, said guide surface of said device including an upstream surface portion arranged in alignment with said downstream end portion of said electromagnetic means in the direction of conveyor movement and a downstream surface portion extending from said upstream surface portion thereof in a diverging direction relative to the direction of conveyor movement into an other region spaced transversely of said path from said one region, said magnet device attracting said attractable portion of said deflected carriers for further deflecting same transversely of said path away from said one region towards said other region when in engagement with said guide surface thereof.

Claim 33

A mechanism according to claim 26, wherein said electromagnetic means is arranged along said upper run thereby to permit said flow directing mechanism to be employed to diverge articles passing along a single input into at least two essentially parallel outputs, said input delivering articles onto carriers arranged within said one region adjacent said one end of said conveyor, and each of said outputs receiving articles from carriers arranged within one of said one region and said other region adjacent an opposite end of said conveyor.

Claim 34

A mechanism according to claim 26, wherein said electromagnetic means is arranged along said lower run thereby to permit said flow directing mechanism to be employed to converge articles passing from at least two essentially parallel inputs into a single output during passage of said carriers along said upper run from an opposite end of said conveyor towards said one end thereof, each of said inputs being arranged to deliver artIcles onto carriers presented within one of said one region and said other region adjacent said opposite end of said conveyor, and said output being arranged to receive articles from said carriers presented within said one region adjacent said one end of said conveyor, each of said inputs including gate means operable for discharging articles onto said carriers when presented thereto, and there is further provided in combination control means for controlling operation of said electromagnetic means and said gate means whereby said carriers are presented successively to said inputs and said gate means are operated to deliver articles onto said presented carriers.