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US 5,492,453 AGranted
Materials handling system
AssigneeGreystones Enterprises (Proprietary) Limited
InventorsDigby H. Mouritzen, Kenneth H. Mouritzen, Glenn L. Mouritzen
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AssigneeGreystones Enterprises (Proprietary) Limited
InventorsDigby H. Mouritzen, Kenneth H. Mouritzen, Glenn L. Mouritzen
Estimating the term…
A materials handling system is disclosed which includes a pneumatic conveyor which feeds material onto a series of belt conveyors. The pneumatic conveyor includes a vertically movable nozzle for sucking up the material to be conveyed. Power is supplied to one of the belt conveyors from a power source and through that conveyor to the conveyors upstream of it. The pneumatic conveyor is connected to the first of the belt conveyors of the series so that it receives a signal indicating whether the first belt conveyor is powered. In the event that the signal received by the pneumatic conveyor indicates that the first belt conveyor is not powered, and the pneumatic conveyor is set for automatic operation, the nozzle is automatically lifted. Lifting continues for a predetermined period so that the nozzle is lifted clear of the material. Only when power is restored to the first belt conveyor, and this is signalled to the pneumatic conveyor, can the nozzle be lowered again.
A materials handling system including a series of belt conveyors each including a belt, a pneumatic conveyor having a suction nozzle and a material outlet from which material is discharged onto the belt of a first belt conveyor of said series, said first belt conveyor having an electrical outlet at which there is a signal indicating when power is being supplied to said first belt conveyor and control means for said suction nozzle of said pneumatic conveyor, the control means comprising detecting means for detecting said signal at said outlet of said first belt conveyor of said series of belt conveyors, first nozzle actuating means which when operated displaces said nozzle in an upward direction, second nozzle actuating means which when operated displaces said nozzle in a downward direction, and disabling means operated by said signal detecting means which disables said second nozzle actuating means when it detects that power supply to said first belt conveyor has terminated and which further supplies power to said first nozzle actuating means so that said nozzle is displaced upwardly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.