A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING A STORAGE AND TRANSPORT RACK

Abstract: Method and apparatus for loading and unloading a transport and storage rack, such as a cart-rack (9). Packages (2) of goods, arriving on a conveyor (3), are directed to the appropriate support plates (6) of an intermediate storage (4) equipped with a lifting and lowering device, the plates being situated at a distance from each other corresponding to the distance between the shelves in the cart-rack (9), in which case a number of goods packages corresponding to the number of shelves in the rack are transferred simultaneously into the rack by means of a separate pushing device (5), the several pushers (11) of this device carrying out the transfer. The rack (9) is unloaded by pushing by means of a pusher (5) all the goods packages (2) in it simultaneously into the intermediate storage (4) and from there one at the time onto the conveyor (3). At this time the conveying direction of the lifting device is opposite to the loading procedure. The intermediate storage (4) can be loaded with a complete formation of goods, and respectively emptied, while the loaded, respectively unloaded, cart-rack (9) is being replaced.

Description: A method and apparatus for loading and unloading a storage and transport rack The present invention relates to a method for loading with several layers of goods a storage and transport rack, and respectively for unloading it, wherein goods which arrive on a conveyor are transferred during loading into a rack, for example a cart-rack, and respectively, during unloading the goods are transferred from it, the rack being fixed to a predetermined station for the duration of the loading or the unloading. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out this method. There are known apparatus by means of which a cart-rack, for example one for milk cartons, can be loaded in such a ■ way that a quantity of milk cartons which fit on one storag level of the rack and are situated on a suitable flat support or are placed in a separate package are transferred to the storage level by pushing by means of, for example, a hydraulic cylinder. By adjusting either the height positi of the rack or the height position of the level on which th goods arrive and from which they are pushed into the rack, the different levels of the rack can be loaded. Thereafter the loaded rack can be rolled away and a new cart-rack can be brought in its place. In the system in question, however a considerable number of stoppages are caused because the replacing of the cart-rack takes its time and the rest of the system is idle during that time. In addition, applying such a system also to unloading is difficult. The object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus by means of which the above-mentioned problem can be overcome and by means of whicn not only the loading of a storage and transport rack but also its unloading can OMPI be achieved in a manner optimized with respect to the use of time. For this purpose the invention applies an intermediate stor device which is equipped with a vertical transfer device fo receiving the goods in layers and from which then the entir formation of goods can be pushed into the rack at one time. A vertical transfer device of this type is prior known from for example DE Patent Application 2,131,179. It utilizes in connection with the storage of goods a lifting device moving on rails, in which the layers of goods are stacked one on top of the other and which can then place the entire formation into the appropriate storage rack, or respectivel take a formation out of the rack. What is concerned in the present invention is a stationary intermediate storage whic can be loaded, or respectively unloaded, while the loaded, or respectively unloaded, rack is being replaced. The method according to the invention is characterized by that which is disclosed in Claim 1, and the characteristics of the apparatus according to the invention are respectivel given in Claim 5. The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying patent drawings, in which Figure 1 depicts a simplified side view of an apparatus according to the invention. Figure 2 depicts the same apparatus in section A-A of Figur 1. Figure 3 depicts an apparatus according to the invention specifically applied to the unloading of a cart-rack, Figure 4 depicts the apparatus according to Figure 3 in section C-C of Figure 3, Figure 5 depicts section B-β of the intermediate storage >MPΓ apparatus seen in Figures 2 and 4, Figure 6 depicts an intermediate storage apparatus for goo which are not in package, and Figure 7 depicts the loading stage for such goods, corresponding to Figure 1. Figure 1 depicts an ' pparatus 1 in which the goods to be loaded, in this case bottles 2 packed into a group, arrive at the loading site on a conveyor 3. The cart-racks 9 to be loaded arrive at the site on a conveyor 10 and stop at the loading place. In the immediate vicinity of the conveyor 3 there is an intermediate storage 4, and those edges of it which are parallel to the travel direction of the conveyor have endless conveyor chains 12, which serve as lifting/ lowering devices and in which there are fitted at even intervals plates 6 which serve as means for receiving the package of goods. There are plates β with conveyor chains 12 on both sides of the intermediate storage 4, their move¬ ments being, of course, mutually synchronized, in order that the package remain in a substantially horizontal posit throughout the operation. The packages coming from the conveyor 3 are transferred into the intermediate storage 4 in such a way that each pai of plates 6 receives its own package of goods. At this time the chains move downwards in sequences in such a way that each of the spaces between the plates seen in Figure 1 has a package of goods, the distance between the plates corresponding to the distance between the shelves in the cart-rack 9 . The cart-rack is waiting for its load next to the intermedi storage 4, and the pushing device 5 carries out a reciproca movement and pushes, by means of its pusher 11, in this cas four packages 2 one on top of the other onto the shelves 13 respectively spaced in the rack. This transfer has been preceded by a transfer of the rack 9 by member 8 to immediately next to the intermediate storage 4. During the transfer the member 8 supports the cart-rack 9 so that it cannot move when the force of the push affects it. The entire transfer of the packages into the rack takes only the time that it takes for the next package to be transferr to the top space in the intermediate storage 4. Thereafter the cart-rack can be moved away and be replaced with the next rack 9, which arrives on the conveyor 10 while the intermediate storage 4 is being filled. In the event that the functions of the apparatus depicted in Figures 1 and 2 are altered in a certain way and the order of the devices is changed, the system can be caused to f nction as an unloading apparatus. Such an apparatus is depicted in Figures 3 and 4 as an embodiment in which the unloading direction is depicted as being opposite to the loading direction. The intermediate storage 4 is exactly the same device as described above, even though its conveying direction is now upward instead o downward, as it is when loading the rack. The arrangement o the rack 9 is also identical to the previous one. The pushi device 5 is now depicted in a form somewhat deviating from the previous one, but the pushers- 11 operate in the same manner as above. Thus they push all the packages from the rack simultaneously into the device 4. In addition, the pushing device has a separate arm 14, which pushes the package which is at the level of the conveyor 3 onto the conveyor 3, which carries it away. Figure 4 depicts an arrangement of a cart-rack track 10 deviating from the embodiment of Figure 2. The arriving branch 10a and the departing branch 10b of the conveyor 10 are substantially parallel. This is significant in terms of the adaptability of apparatus, for depending on the space available it may be necessary to place the track in different ways. The fact that the conveyor 10 has two curves is significant also for the reason that in this case it is necessary to have two separate new pushers 15 and 16 to aid the transfer of the cart-racks to the unloading place and away from it. The said pushers and especially the arrival-side pusher 15 can also be used for precise placing of the rack at its unloading station. It is quite clear that the conveyor 10 can curve in any direction, in which case the angle between the arriving conveyor section 10a and the departing section 10b can be 0°, 90° or 180°. Figure 5 depicts cross section B-B of the lifting and lower device 4. The figure clearly shows the placement of the chains 12 or respective devices in the apparatus and the location of the plates 6 in the chains 12. Pushing devices 5, 14, 15 and 16 can be pneumatic, hydrauli or, for example, electromechanical devices, for any known operating method is sufficient, since reliability in opera is nearly the only criterion in the selection of the operat method. Sufficient speed is achieved by any operating metho The mutual location of the parts of the apparatus can be different from that presented by way of example in the figures. Thus, the conveyor arrangement 10 for the loading of the cart-racks 9 can be the same as is used in, for example, Figure 4, for the straightness of the conveyor 10 is not a condition for successful operation. By using the method and apparatus according to the inventio it has been possible to make both operations continuous. There will be no stoppages, and so the loading and unloadin of cart-racks or similar storage and transport racks is rapid as compared with previous methods, which is an absolute requirement in modern industry. Since the capacity of the apparatus is considerably higher than that of known apparatus, it is possible with the aid of the apparatus according to the invention to achieve savings also in acquisitions of apparatus, since the total number of appara units per factory unit can be decreased. The apparatus according to the invention is highly suitable for use also in such a way that the goods, such as cartons or bottles, are not packed in packages, but they arrive on conveyor 3 separate,in a so-called "loose package". Such a "loose package" thus otherwise fully corresponds to the quantity of goods packed in a box, but there is no package around the goods. In such a case the plates 6 of the liftin and lowering device are designed so that they form a substantially level surface for the goods. Thus the plates 6 have been widened in such a way that the plates 6 extend on both sides of the device 4 substantially half way into the device 4. In other respects the apparatus fully corresponds to the apparatus described above. Above, an- apparatus was described in which the cart-rack 9 is equipped with shelves onto which the packages of goods or the goods are transferred in layers. It is, however, fully possible also to use a rack without shelves. It is evident that the goods to be stacked in the cart-rack 9 must in such a case be capable of being stacked one above the other, i.e. they must be of such a kind that the upper surface of each layer of goods can serve as the receiving surface of the next layer of goods in the event that a "loose package" is used. If there are no shelves, the plate 6 of the intermediate storage 4 are used for transferring the goods from the intermediate storage 4 into the rack 9. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 7. The plates 6 QMPI WIPO extend on both sides substantially so as to come into cont with each other, and the "loose package" made up of the goods, supported by the plates 6, is transferred into the cart-rack, whereafter a stop on the intermediate storage 4 side holds the goods in place while the plates 6 are being drawn back. When an embodiment is used in which the plates 6 of the intermediate storage can be transferred into the rack and away from it, and thus the transfer is by means of plates into a rack without shelves, the transfer must be staggere since the package or separate goods to be transferred into the rack must, of course, have a receiving base ready at least in part before the next layer can be transferred int place. Such staggering is shown in Figure 7. In it the lowest plates 6 are carrying out their transfer movement with the aid of pushers 17 somewhat ahead of the next plate pair 6, which again carries out its movement slightly ahea of the next one, etc. The difference between the stages nee not be great, but should be great enough for a suitable receiving base to have been formed at each given time for the next layer of goods. OMPI

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 12 March 1984 (12.03.84); original claims 1 and 2 have been amended; claims 3 to 10 unchanged] 1. A method for loading a storage and transport rack with sever layers of goods, wherein the rack (9) is fixed to a predetermin station for the duration of the loading and the goods (2), arri ing on a conveyor (3) are transferred, simultaneously with the replacing of the previous rack (9) at the loading station, in layers into an intermediate storage (4) equipped with a vertica transfer, into a formation which corresponds to the formation o the goods in the rack (9) itself, and the goods (2) being subse quently transferred by horizontal movement from the intermediat storage (4) into the rack (9), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in th -the transfer in the intermediate storage (4) is carried out wi the goods being supported by horizontally movable plate-like me bers (6), said transfer plate members (6) coming under each one of the package layers, and that the loading is carried out by means of substantially one push, but slightly staggered so that the lowest layer is transferred into the rack first. 2. An apparatus for loading a storage and transport rack with several layers of goods, comprising a conveyor (3) for bringing the goods in one layer, a storage and transport rack (9) for the goods, said rack (9) being advantageously also movable by means of a conveyor and lockable at a predetermined station for the loading of goods, and an intermediate storage 4 fitted next to the said station, the intermediate storage being equipped with shelves (6) for receiving the goods (2) in layers and with vertical transfer devices (12) for transferring the shelves (6) and the goods thereon in the vertical direction into a formation corresponding to the formation of goods in the rack (9), and a multiple-layer pushing device (5) fitted next to the intermediat storage (4) for pushing the goods from the intermediate storage (4) into the rack (9), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the intermediate storage (4) comprises horizontally movable plate-li members (6) for supporting each one of the layers of goods (2) i the intermediate storage (4), and that the pushing device (5) comprises separate pushers (17) for each layer of goods, said pushers (17) being arranged into staggered positions with the lowermost pusher ahead of the following pusher etc. 3. A method according to Claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z i n that the transfer in the intermediate storage (4) is carried out with the goods being supported by plate-like members (6) attached to endless chains (12) . 4. A method according to any of Claims 1-3, the rack not having shelves, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that trans plates coming under the package layers are used for the transfer and" that the loading is carried out by means of O WIP substantially one push, but slightly staggered so that the lowest layer is transferred into the rack first. 5. An apparatus for loading a storage and transport rack with several layers of goods, and respectively for unloadi it, comprising a conveyor (3) for bringing the goods or fo taking them away and a storage and transport rack for the goods, the rack (9) being advantageously also movable by means of a conveyor and lockable at a predetermined statio for the loading or unloading of goods, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d by an intermediate storage (4) fitted next to th said station, the intermediate storage being equipped with shelves for receiving the goods (2) in layers and with vertical transfer devices (12) for transferring the shelve in the vertical direction in steps corresponding to the distance between the shelves, and a multiple-layer pushing device fitted next to the rack (9) or to the intermediate storage (4) for pushing the entire formation of goods substantially at one time from the intermediate storage (4 into the rack (9) or from the rack into the intermediate storage. 6. An apparatus according to Claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the vertical transfer device of the intermediate storage (4) comprises endless chains (12) situated on both sides and having, for receiving the packa (2) of goods, plate-like members (6) with the spacing of the goods layers of the rack (9) . 7. An apparatus according to Claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the plates (6) are rather narrow plate situated on the sides of the device (4) , or in the event that the goods are without a package, the plates (6) form a substantially continuous and level base for receiving th goods. ΪTREX 0..fPI 8. An apparatus according to Claim 7, in which the plate form a substantially continuous base, c h a r a c t e r i z i n that the top surfaces of the plates (6) are provided with guide flanges extending in the pushing direction. 9. An apparatus according to any of Claims 6-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the plates are movabl along their plane in order to serve as a surface for the transfer of the goods into the rack (9) . 10. An apparatus according to Claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that each pushing device (5) comprises a separate pusher (11) for each package of goods. OMPI

Inventors: BERGHAELL CHRISTER KARL-OLOF, HILTUNEN MIKKO KALERVO, KOSKIVAARA TIMO TAPIO, OLLIKAINEN JUKKA SAKARI, BERGHAELL, CHRISTER, KARL-OLOF, HILTUNEN, MIKKO, KALERVO, KOSKIVAARA, TIMO, TAPIO, OLLIKAINEN, JUKKA, SAKARI
Applicants: VALPAK OY
Application year: 1983
Main classification: B65G67
IPC codes: B65G1, B65G57, B65G65, B65G67