American Chain & Cable Company, Inc.

Ernest P Moyer

A movable storage unit system comprising a plurality of individually driven storage units at least some of which are movable toward and away from one another into contact with one another to define an access space between a pair of the units. A logic control circuit is provided on each unit and a limit sensor is provided on each movable unit including a sensor circuit for creating a signal in response to contact of a pair of storage units. A safety sensor is also provided on each unit and includes a safety sensor control circuit for creating a signal upon engagement of the safety sensor and an object or person in the path of the unit. A pair of reset controls is provided on each unit including a reset control circuit for creating a logic signal when actuated, and a run control is provided on each unit for creating a logic signal when actuated. The storage units are electrically connected such that a logic signal from the run control directs a run signal to a next adjacent unit. Each logic module includes a pair of reset transmit circuits for producing reset output signals, the reset transmit circuits of the logic modules being electrically interconnected. Each logic module includes a command inhibit circuit for receiving a run signal and electrically connected to receive signals from the reset control circuits, safety control circuit, and limit control circuit of its respective storage unit to inhibit the transmittal of the run signal. Each logic module includes a pair of move transmit circuits for producing move signals, the move transmit circuits of adjacent storage units being interconnected. Each logic module includes a move steering logic circuit for producing move command signals, the move command signal actuates a drive unit of a respective storage unit in one direction or the other.

Movable storage unit system

A conveyor system wherein a traveling mechanism is moved in a predetermined path and selectively controlled in its movement including an encoder unit mounted on the mechanism and a readout unit mounted along the path and wherein the encoder unit provides a plurality of input signals and the readout unit reads the signals to actuate a control device along the path to determine the path of movement of the traveling mechanism. A control circuit is associated with said encoder and readout units and comprises a readout circuit and a logic circuit. The readout circuit includes an AND circuit having an input for receiving signals from the encoder unit and transmitting an output signal when the code on the encoder unit matches the code on the readout unit. The logic circuit has an input and an output. The output of the readout circuit is coupled to the input of the logic circuit while maintaining the readout circuit electrically isolated from the logic circuit. The output of the logic circuit is coupled to the control device along the path of the traveling mechanism while maintaining the logic circuit and the control device electrically isolated from one another.

Conveyor system control circuit

In accordance with the invention, a control system is provided for maximizing flow rate and sorting rate by minimizing the spacing between articles of varying length. The system measures the length of the articles and controls their movement into the sortation system so as to minimize spacing between the articles. The system permits maximizing the rate of sortation while taking into account conveyor speed, length of time for diverting to zones, length of the articles and spacing between them. In addition, the system is arranged to prevent false signals due to tags and the like.

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Frederick, MD, United States of America

Ernest P Moyer