LOAD STORAGE STATION, PARTICULARLY FOR THE STOWING OF SHIPS

Abstract: The load stoage station comprises a carriage (13) driven along longitudinal runways (12) of a platform (2) resting on the ground through resting assemblies (3), a load parking stage (20) vertically rotatably supported on the carriage (13) and supporting thereon a vertically swingable load conveyor (41) effective to deliver the load to a desired storage location. Thus a stowing station is provided the overall size whereof can be reduced to facilitate its introduction into spaces of hard accessibility.

Description: introduction into spaces of complicated accessibility. The aforesaid task and object are achievedby a load storage station, particu'arly for the stowing of ships, characterized in that it comprises a carriage driven along longitudinal runaways of a platform having ground resting elements, a load parkins stage carried rotatzbly on said carriage for rotation about vertical axis ald ha-ving mounted thereon for oscillation in a vertical plane a load conveyor for delivering said load to a desired storage location. Further features will be more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, but not limitative, embodiment of a load storage station, particularly for the stowing of ships, according to the invention, as illustrated by way of example and not of limitation in the accompanyillg drawings, where: Figures I and 2 are respectively a side view and rear view of a storage station; and Figures 3 and 4 are detail views taken along the section planes III-III and IV-IV of Figure 1. with particular reference to the drawing figures, a storage station is indicated at 1. çhe citation 1 comprises a rectangular platform 2 which, by means of ground engaging elements 3, is handled and arranged essentially horizontal in a desired work position inside a storehouse or ship hold. The elements 3 comprise four brackets 4 which protrude laterally out of the front and rear ends of the platform 2. Each bracket 4 is secured to a respective support bracket This invention relates to a load storage station, particul rly for the stowing of ships, intended for operation inside a storehouse or ship hold to transfer individual load component elements from a confined area where said elements are piled to an area where said elements are arranged in an o}-derly fashion. Por such load or cargo handling operations, it is general practice to utilize self-propelled lift trucks which, bowever, cannot perform efficiently in confined spaces, such as a ship bold, since the available space for stowing is practically the space which surrounds the loading area below the deck hatch. Moreover, where the load or cargo comprises bags, bales, or the like, these must be arranged in an orderly fashion to form several layers starting from the remotest areas from the loading one. Heretofore, the handling of a load or cargo for storage/stowage purposes required the availability of a considerable labor force capable of carrying out heavy work for a long time. Accordingly, the task of this invention is to provide a load storage station, in particular for ship stowing, which affords the possibility of rationaliz llg and speeding up the load/cargo handling operations, while drastically reducing the labor requirements. Within this task it is an object of the invention to provide such a station, the overall dimensions or extended size whereof canbereduced to facilitate its 5, made rigid with the platform 3, by means of a longitudinal hinge 6 and of a peg 7 which is removably inserted longitudinally through respective holes formed in the bracket 4 and support bracket 5, below the hinge 6. In the proximities of the hinge 6, each bracket 4 carries at the bottom a wheel 8 journaled for idle rotation relatively to a vertical axis; the bracket 4 is provided at its free end with a bushing 9 wherein a retractable column 10 is guided vertically which carries at the bottom, articulated in a ball pin, a foot 11 for ground resting. Preferably, on the bushing 9 interior, there is formed a volute screw which is coupled to the threaded end of said corresponding coluszz 10. The platform 2 carries at the top a pair of longitudinal guides 12 along which a carriage 13 is driven in sliding engagement, the carriage having idle mounted wheels 14. A geared motor 15 is secured under the carriage 13 and drives a sprocket wheel 16 which engages with the links of a chain 17 extending longitudinally and teing fastened to the ends of the platform 2. A pair of idler sprockets 18a and 18b are arranged co-planarly, respectively upstream and dovmstream of the sprocket 16, to keep the length of chain 17 in engagement with the sprocket 16 tensioned. The carriage 13 carries, rotatable by means of a center plate 19, a parking stage for the load 20. A geared motor 21 drives a pinion gear 22 which mesh engages with a gear wheel 23 internally rigid with the center plate 19. The stage 20 comprises a frame 24 formed from sectional metal, which defines at the top a working surface 25 which carries hinged longitudinally, hinges 26, two side extensions 25a and 25b arranged to be coplanar with the surface or deck 25 so as to increase the useful area thereof. To the stage 20, there is hingedly connected a first arm 27, set for oscillation in vertical plane, which has one end Jcarnaled to a horizontal cross pin 28, located below the deck 25 between two uprights 24a and 24b of the frame 24. Substantially at its middle, the arm 27 carries hinged (hinge 29) to its bottom the rod of a jack 30 which is in turn hingedly connected to the base of the frame 24 through a hinge 31. The arm 27 comprises a frame 32 of rectangular crÏss-section, wherein a second arm 33 is guided telescopically which has side mounted idle wheels 34 accommodated in oppositely located C-like longitudinal guides 35 of the arm 27. - The arm 33 is made rigid with a pair of chains 36 in closed loop configuration and stretched between a driveshaft 37 and an idler return shaft 38, located respectively at the journaled end and free end of the arm 27. The reference numeral 39 designates the geared motor which, through the shaft 37, drives a pair of sprocket wheels 40 engaging with the chains 36. The arm 27 and arm 33 are equipped with respective conveyor belts 41 and 42 which are driven in a conventional way and form the conveyor. At 43 and 44, there are indicated the return rollers of the belt 41, the forward run 41 a whereof is guided laterally on a pair of longitudinal stringers 32a and 32b of the frame 32. The belt 42 is similarly arranged on the arm 33. At 45 there is indicated the frame of the arm 33 and at 45a and 45b its related stringers on which the forward run o the belt 42 is guided. The belt 42 is stretched between the return rollers 46 and 47. At 48 is indicated a protection breastwork arranged laterally to a recessed portion of the deck 25, wherethrough the arm 27 extends in the position of IIlaximum inclination on the stage 20. The invention operates as follows: the station 1 is made ready at a loading location where the load can be readily laid onto the deck 25 of the parking stage 20. The platform 2 rests on the ground through the feet 11, and the arm 27 is directed toward the storage area selected by operating the geared motor 21, which will produce a rotation of the arm 27 relatively to the longitudinal axis of the platform 2. By actuating the jack 30, the inclination of the arm 2? is adjusted on the horizontal plane whilst by means of the geared motor 39 and chain 36,the arm 33 can be extended telescopically with respect to the arm 27, thereby the conveyor belts 41 and 42 provide a line of conveyance of the load to the storage area. In order to increase the reach of said line of conveyance, the carriage 13 can be displaced longitudinally with respect to the platform 2 by operating the geared motor 15. Upon completion of the storing/stowing operations, and after the columns 1C have been retracted into tne bushings 9, the station 7 can be easily transferred to a successive loading location by resting it on the ground via castor wheels 80 )?inally, after the storing/stowing operations have been completed, the station 1 can be easily moved away from the loading location, since by tilting the brackets 4 and side extensions 25a and 25b upwards and by arranging the arm 33 in its fully retracted position-within the arm 27, the overall size of the station 1 reduces to the size of the platform 2. It has been found in actual practice that the invention achieves its objects; in particular, few operators are sufficient to quickly carry out the storing/stowing of a considerable load, since the work can go on in a continuous way. The load parking stage 20, on which two operators will be at work to arrar.ge the load onto the conveyor belt 41, is fed,upon occasion ,from a crane or other suitable means, and, as the load is being transferred to the storage area, the station 1 can be operated to convey the load to other available storage areas. The invention as set forth hereinabove is susceptible to many modifications and variations. In practicing the invention, the materials used, and the shapes and dimensions mey be any selected ones to suit individual reauirements, without departing from the invention scope as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A load storage station, particulaxly for the stowing of ships, characterized in that it comprises a carriage (13) driven along longitudinal runaways (12) of a platform (2) having ground resting elements (3), a load parking stage (2C) carried rotatably on said carriage (13) for rotation about a vertical axis and having mounted thereon for oscillation in a vertical plane a load conveyor (41) for delivering said load to a desired storage location. 2. A station according to Claim 1, characterized in that said conveyor (41) comprises a closed loop conveyor belt (41) passed around a pair of rollers (43, 44) carried rotatably at the end of an arm (27) articulated to the load parking stage (20). 3. A station according to Claim 1, characterized in that said articulated arm (27) has one end journaled to a horizontal pivot pin (28) of said load parking stage (20), and that at a substa-ntially central position (29) a jack (30) is active which is interposed between said arm (27) and said stage (20). 4, A station according to ClaLa 3 s characterized in that on said articulated asp (27) there is supported for a telescopic sliding movement a second arm (33) carrying a conveyor belt (42), and that a means (35) is provided of actwaving said second arui (33) between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to said articulated arm (27). 5. A station according to Claim 4, characterized in that said means comprises a pair of closed loop chains (36) extending between a driveshaft (37) and an idler return shaft (38) respectively located at the pivoted end and free end of said oscillating arm (27), said chains (36) being connected to at least one point on said second arm (33). 6. A station according to Claim 1, characterized in that said resting elements co:nprise four brackets (4) arranged to protrude laterally cut of said platform (2), said brackets (4) being provided at the bottom with respective castor wheels (8) set for pivotal movement in vertical planes to allow the platform (2) to be transferred to a desired job site. 7. A station according to Claim 6, characterized in that said brackets (4) are also provided with retractable columns (10) having at the bottom ends thereof respective ground engaging feet (11) articulated thereto through ball pins. 8. A station according to Claim 6, characterized in that said brackets (4) are articulated at the top to said platform (2) by means of longitudinal hinges (6) and can be tilted up to reduce the cross dimension to the size of said platform (2).

Inventors: REGGIANI, FRANCO
Applicants: BM DI BEVINI & C. S.N.C.
Application year: 1981
Main classification: B65G67
IPC codes: B65G67, B65G1