Patent GB-1074964-A (GB)
Title: Article handing apparatus
IPC: B65G47/08
Filed: 1963-12-17
Abstract: 1,074,964. Stacking cases on pallets; conveyers. FMC CORPORATION. Dec. 17, 1963 [Dec. 26, 1962], No. 49755/63. Headings B8A and B8C. [Also in Division F2] Apparatus for stacking articles on pallets includes a first flexible carriage LSC, Fig. 1, which receives a layer of articles from a layer accumulator LA, and a second flexible carriage PSC which feeds pallets from a magazine 55 on to a load elevator LE so that when the carriage LSC is stripped away the layer of articles is deposited on the pallet lying therebeneath. In the machine shown, the flexible carriage LSC, Fig. 23, comprises a set of rollers 600 rotatably mounted between chains 601, 602 and the carriage PSC is of similar construction. Feed of cases.-A case is fed to the machine by a conveyer FC, Fig. 2, and carried by narrow belts 100 to a position above rollers 80 and adjacent a reciprocating pusher CP. The frame carrying belts 100 is then lowered by cam action so that the case is lowered on to rollers 80 and is fed by them and the pusher CP to a crate turner CT, comprising two sets of rollers 220, 221 one set of which may be braked while the other is rotated. If the case is to retain its original orientation both sets of rollers 220, 221 are rotated and feed the case to the rollers 300 of a row accumulator RA. Alternatively, the set of rollers 221 is braked by cam action and the case is rotated through 90 degrees as it passes to the row accumulator. Rotation of the case is improved by making rollers 220, 221 form the sides of a shallow V (see Fig. 9, not shown). The first case to reach the accumulator abuts an adjustable stop 50 and the following cases build up against this to form a row. If a gap is to be created in the row of cases one of the rollers 300, e.g. 300A is raised by cam action to provide a second stop. When a row of eases has been formed on the accumulator RA a frame carrying narrow belts 415 is raised by cam action and the belts carry the row on to a layer accumulator LA and up against a stop 51. When a layer of cases has been formed on the layer accumulator the stop 51 pivots below the level of the cases to allow them to proceed, between adjustable guides 717, 718, on to the layer stripper carriage LSC and to abut an adjustable stop 711. The rollers 600, Fig. 23, of the layer stripper carriage LSC are driven by belts 660, 661 contacting sleeves 610 thereon. After the cases on the carriage abut the stop 711 further rotation of the rollers causes them to " walk out" from under the cases which drop on to a pallet directly beneath them. When the layer of cases has been released the carriage LSC returns to its original position under the action of a torsion spring 650. Feed of pallets.-A pair of belts 833, Fig. 3, feeds a stack of pallets above a pallet elevator PE when the latter is in its lowest position and the elevator then rises to raise the stack to the position of Fig. 3. The pallet stripper carriage PSC which has been pulled to the position of Fig. 3 when the load elevator LE descends, retracts under the action of a torsion spring as the empty elevator rises, so that its leading roller which has a fluted sleeve is urged between the topmost and second pallets on the elevator PE. The rollers 860 of the pallet stripper carriage PSC rotated by belts contacting sleeves thereon advance beneath the topmost pallet. The rotation of the rollers feeds the pallet on to the load elevator LE as it approaches the level X, Fig. 3, to abut a stop 736B. The pallet is then raised on the elevator to casereceiving position. Discharge of loaded pallets.-When a layer of cases has been formed on a pallet the load elevator is lowered to a position in which it receives the next layer. After a predetermined number of layers have been stacked on the pallet the load elevator LE descends to the position shown in Fig. 3 and rollers 736 thereon are rotated. The stop 736B is lowered to be level with these rollers to allow the filled pallet to pass to a discharge conveyer DC which feeds it from the machine. Control of machine.-A programme chain 1000, Fig. 40, carries rods 1005 on which are mounted rollers R1-R12. Certain of these rollers are of enlarged diameter so that as they pass switches P1-P8 they actuate them. Each of the switches P1-P4 when actuated energizes a solenoid which brings into operation a cam follower. The cam followers corresponding to switches P1-P4 control the case turner CT, Fig. 2, the row discharge belts 415, the layer discharge control stop 51, and the gap-forming roller 300A. Consequently the rollers of an enlarged diameter on the programme chain determine the cases which are turned, where the gap, if any, is formed in each row, the size of each row, and the size of each layer. Thus variation in the programme chain will produce any desired configuration and size of layer. The other operations of the machine, e.g. rotation of the rollers of the stripper carriages, and raising and lowering of the pallet and load elevators are controlled by switches actuated mechanically by the cases, the pallets, or moving parts of the machine framework.