Patent GB-1356486-A (GB)
Title: Article transfer apparatus
IPC: B65B5/10
Filed: 1972-01-19
Abstract: 1356486 Transfer mechanism for stacking articles METAL BOX CO Ltd 19 Jan 1972 2513/72 Heading B8C Transfer apparatus for transferring each of a succession of articles, or batches of articles, from a first location to a second location, includes an article-engaging member, 18, a first actuating system 19 for performing a variable first stroke and a second actuating system 35 for performing a variable second stroke independently of the first actuating system, at east one of said actuating systems comprising telescopic actuators arranged in a plurality of parallel lines but in series relationship with each other, and said first and second actuating systems being arranged to cause the article-engaging member 18 to perform a succession of working movements alternating with return movements, such that each working and/or return movement is variable and defined by a said first and/or second stroke, or a vectorial resultant of said first and second strokes, so as to be capable of moving the article-engaging member between positions corresponding respectively to any one of a plurality of predetermined said first locations and to any one of a plurality of predetermined said second locations. As shown the transfer mechanism has the article-engaging member 18 which is movable vertically and horizontally with respect to a main support beam 14 from a location adjacent a conveyer 12 to a succession of predetermined positions to a single article, or batches of articles such as plastics bottles 11 from the conveyer 12 and stack them into a packing tray 13. The member 18 comprises a vacuum shoe which is carried at one end of a bar 32 slidably mounted, in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the beam 14 in a block 17 which is slidable along the main axis of the beam 14. The latter is pivoted at 15 and can be tilted by an actuator 52. Two parallel rows of, serially connected, pneumatic piston and cylinder actuators A-F of the actuating system 19 are connected between the slide block 17 and the base of the beam. A similar set of actuators G-h, in the system 35, are connected between the slide block 17 and a support block 33 which is secured to the other end of the bar 32 and is slidably mounted on a bar 34 supported by the slide block 17. The actuating systems 19, 35 control respectively the vertical and horizontal working and return strokes of the shoe 18 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the beam 14, the actual length of each stroke being determined by selective operation of actuators in the respective actuating systems 19 and 35. The working strokes may comprise purely vertical and horizontal strokes or, their vectorial resultants. A control system 51 can be adapted to operate a single programme, alternatively it can be adapted to carry out a wide variety of different operations between which there may be variations in a number of parameters. Trays (13) can be fed successively down a shoot (60), Fig. 6, not shown, to a platform (61) which is pivotable backwards after each tray has been filled. A modified shoe (73), Fig. 7, not shown, has nozzles (75) for picking up ten tins and placing them in a box, Figs. 8, 9, not shown. The vacuum shoes may be replaced by a pneumatically, or electrically, controlled gripper or, by an electromagnetic pick up. The pick up position of the shoe, or gripper &c., may be selected from a plurality of such positions. The control system (51), which as described is electronic, Figs. 10-12, not shown, could take the form of any other kind of well known control system such as, e.g. a fluidics system, or an electro-mechanical system.