Patent GB-1008247-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to loading systems
IPC: B65G57/00
Filed: 1961-10-16
Abstract: 1,008,247. Stacking machines. TISSMETAL LIONEL-DUPONT TESTE & CIE. act 16, 1961 [Oct. 17, 1960], No. 37085/61. Heading B8C. Apparatus for superposing layers of packages on a pallet which is moved down by stages as each layer is added, comprises a table on which packages are arranged manually in a row, a roller conveyer on to which a row is moved perpendicular to its length, the conveyer then being correspondingly advanced, a retaining abutment, which when moved behind the last row of an assembled layer, causes reverse movement of the conveyer, so that the layer falls on to the pallet or a previous layer, and interrupts a light beam falling on a photo-cell to cause descent of the pallet by one stage, a frame supporting the pallet, and means operative when the pallet descends by its final stage to render the photo-cell inoperative and cause further descent of the frame so as to deposit the pallet on to discharge rollers. Frame, pallet and conveyer.-Fig. 1  is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan view of a machine comprising two each of uprights 1, 2, in which the extremities of a frame composed of members 21, 22, are free to slide, the frame being attached to ropes or the like 23 and 24 at each side of the machine so that it can be moved vertically by an electric motor 36a. A pallet 44 rests on the frame. Endless chains 8, one at each side of the machine, pass over pulleys 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, and are driven by an electric motor 16. The two chains are spanned over part of their lengths by a set of rollers 15, including a leading roller 15a and an end roller 15b, and a further roller 17 is supported by parallel swinging arms from roller 15a. The rollers 15 are disposed so that they can underlie a loading space defined by rollers 41, 42, 43 (Fig. 2), and in this position are supported by rails 6 on the uprights 1, 2. At the start of a loading cycle, the rollers 15, 17, have been advanced from the positions shown in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 1 means being provided, Figs. 5-8 (not shown) to elevate roller 17 on to rails above rails 6, the roller contacting a limit switch 49 to stop motor 16. An operator standing on platform 5 operates a conveyer 4 delivering loads on to a table 3 having a plurality of freely rotatable balls in its surface. Assembly and deposit of a layer.-The operator aligns two loads, as at a, and pushes them on to the rollers 15 to abut roller 17. He then presses switch 48, to energize motor 16 to advance the rollers until roller 17 contacts a limit switch 50 stopping motor 16. Two more loads are then advanced on to the rollers and this is repeated until the roller 17 contacts limit switch 52, at which point the first loads a abut roller 42, and a fourth pair of loads can be pushed on to the rollers. The operator then pulls down a handgrip 40 on endless ropes 37, enclosing the loads by a roller 39 and stripper element 38. (Alternatively, the handgrip may swing about a forward horizontal pivot, Fig. 11 (not shown).) A projection 53 on one rope 37 then operates a switch 54 to energize motor 16 to withdraw the rollers 15 back to the position shown in full lines, the loads falling on to the pallet. Means are provided to drop roller 17 level with rollers 15 during the initial part of this movement (Figs. 5-8, not shown). When roller 15b engages switch 47, the motor 16 stops. During the reverse movement of the rollers, stops on chains 8 and ropes 37 engage so that the grip 40 is automatically raised, Fig. 9 (not shown). Pallet descent.-When the layer drops on to the pallet, it interrupts a first set of light beams extending diagonally of and just above the pallet. This is sensed by a first set of photocells, which energize motor 36a to lower the pallet until the beams are no longer cut off, and also energize motor 16 to drive the rollers forwardly. Roller 17 is automatically elevated, and stops the motor when it engages limit switch 49. The machine is now ready for a further cycle, in which a further array of loads is dropped on to the first array on the pallet. This is continued until sufficient layers of loads have been dropped. Discharge of loaded pallet and feed of fresh pallet.-The last descent of the pallet cuts off a second set of light beams from sources 63 to a second set of photo-cells 64. This prevents motor 36a from stopping, so that the frame descends through a set of rollers 66 which then support the pallet. Further descent of the frame stops motor 36a by a limit switch (not shown), which also causes rotation of rollers 66 to discharge the loaded pallet, and feed in a fresh pallet 66. During the final part of its descent, the pallet operates on levers 76, 77, to depress rollers 70, 71 and permit horizontal movement of the various pallets. The fresh pallet is correctly positioned over frame 21, 22, by limit switches, which also energize motor 36a to raise the pallet. This raising is stopped when the pallet engages a switch rocker arm 45, or the frame engages a switch 69. The first array of loads can be assembled on rollers 15 while the pallets are being changed.