Patent ID: 6663043
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: B64D,B66C

Abstract:
Lifting apparatus for lifting containers from a supporting surface on a lower level to a higher level via a vertical lift shaft, comprising:a lift member in said vertical lift shaft and movable upwardly and downwardly therethrough; a displaceable suspension member suspended from and below said lift member; said displaceable suspension member being displaceable in a horizontal direction with respect to said lift member, from a normal position in precise alignment with said vertical lift shaft, to a displaced position with respect to said lift member and vertical lift shaft; a spring loaded by the displacement of said displaceable suspension member when moved to its displaced position and urging by the inherent elasticity of the spring, said displaceable suspension to said normal position; and a guiding element carried by said displaceable suspension member; said guiding element having an inclined guiding surface effective, when engaged by a container during the downward movement of the lift member, to displace said displaceable suspension member in a horizontal direction with respect to the lift member and the vertical lift shaft, and thereby to load said spring; the arrangement being such that, when the lift member is lowered to engage a container on the supporting surface, the container engages the guiding surface of the guiding member to displace the displaceable suspension member horizontally and to load said spring; and when the container is lifted off the supporting surface during the upward movement of the lift member, the inherent elasticity of said spring returns the displaceable suspension member, and the container holder engaged thereby, to said normal position of the displaceable suspension member in alignment with said vertical lift shaft.