Patent GB-683546-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to loading and stacking devices
IPC: B65G17/16
Filed: 1950-02-21
Abstract: 683,546. Conveyers. GARRARD, C. A. J. Feb. 21. 1951. [Feb. 21, 1950] No. 4458/50. Class 78 (i). A loading or stacking device comprising an upright frame mounted on wheels, a vertically disposed endless chain conveyer mounted in said frame, and feeding and take-off ramps mounted respectively on opposite sides of the frame and independently adjustable vertically thereon to enable packages to be fed to the conveyer from any desired level on one side of the device and removed therefrom at any level on the other side is characterised in that the conveyer comprises flight bars extending between two parallel chain circuits, and that both ramps are associated with extension pieces, vertically movable with the ramps, for supporting a package in the line of travel of the flight each extension piece being connected to its ramp at both sides of the latter and on the outer sides of the chains, leaving an opening for the passage of the chains and flight bars. As shown in Fig. 1, packages are fed down a ramp 31 on to platforms 25 supported between endless chains 22 mounted on a wheeled frame 11 and are discharged therefrom down a ramp 32, the ramps 31, 32 each comprising a gravity roller conveyer having two rows of rollers side-by-side. The longitudinal members 33 of each ramp are connected by links 34 to extension pieces 35 and are formed with cams 36, the weight of the ramps tending to rock the members 33 downwards about their pivotal connections to the links 34 so as to cause the cams to grip the uprights 10 of the frame 11. The cams are so shaped that the ramp 31 slopes upwardly from its end nearest the uprights, whilst the ramp 32 slopes downwardly. The extension pieces 35 are formed with wheels 37 on which a package rests when it lies in the path of the platforms 25. Packages travelling down the ramp 31 are centralised by resilient arms 42 and are correctly positioned in the path of the ascending platforms 25 by a stop plate 39. Guide fingers 41 direct packages from the descending platforms on to the ramp 32. Means actuated by a package 47, Fig. 2, waiting at the bottom of the ramp 31 to be picked up by the conveyer, for arresting the following package 48 a short distance from the package 47 comprises a lever 43 pivotally mounted on the ramp and having rollers 44, 45 at its ends, the roller 45 being urged downwardly by a spring 46 so that it is normally below the plane of the tops of the rollers of the ramp, with the roller 44 projecting upwardly. The package 47 depresses the roller 44 so as to raise the roller 45 into the path of the package 48 and arrest it. At the same time an arm 49 is rocked, and through links 50, 51 pivots upwardly a pair of arms 53 on a shaft 52 so as to engage brake pads 54 on these arms with two aligned rollers of the ramp, thus resisting their rotation and slowing down the package following the package 48. Means for stopping the conveyer driving motor 18 if a package on the conveyer approaches the ramp 32 whilst the preceding package is still on the ramp in the line of movement of the descending platforms 25, comprises switches 55, 56, Fig. 3, in parallel in the motor circuit. The switch 55 is mounted on the extension piece 35 of the ramp 32 so as to be opened by a package resting thereon, whilst the switch 56 is carried by a pillar 57 extending upwards from this piece 35 and being opened by the engagement with a resilient blade 58 of a projection 59 on one of the arms 27 of each platform. The blade 58 is so positioned as to be engaged by a projection 59 when the second package is still at a distance above the first greater than the maximum height of the packages to be handled. If the second package approaches before the previous one has been cleared, both switches are opened and the motor circuit interrupted. Radially-extending members 29 on wheels 15, driven bv a motor 18 engage blocks 23 on the chassis 22 to drive the conveyer.