Patent GB-988096-A (GB)
IPC: B65G57/00
Abstract: 988,096. Stacking barrels on pallets; conveyers; pallets for handling loads. F. & M. SCHAEFER BREWING CO. Sept. 18, 1961, No. 33406/61. Headings B8A, B8C and B8H. A stacking apparatus assembles a layer of barrels on a base pallet, places an intermediate pallet on the layer and deposits a further layer on the intermediate pallet. A three-tier stack may be formed. The apparatus may orientate the barrels so that their bungs are external of the stack. Supplying and orientating barrels.-Barrels K are deflected from a racking room conveyer 1 by a " brush-off " mechanism 141 which may be moved selectively into the path of movement to transfer the barrels to a conveyer 4 with their bungs in trailing position, Fig. 1. Alternative barrels are transferred by a similar " brush-off " device 3 to a conveyer 3 which turns 180 degrees so that one half of the barrels is presented to a transfer mechanism 7 and the other to an identical mechanism 6 for removal to rails 4, 5 leading to the stacking apparatus. The bungs of the barrels on the two rail paths are thus on the sides remote from each other. The transfer mechanisms 6, 7, Figs. 25, 28, each comprise a framework T37 slidable on rods T34 and carrying a vertically reciprocable gate T10 which engages behind a barrel to urge it off the conveyer. The advancing barrels each strike a plate T1 to cause the gate to be lowered and the framework to advance. The movement of the framework initiates lowering of a stop T40 permitting the barrel to roll on to and down the rails, assisted by an overhead belt S2. As the barrel clears the plate T1 the carriage is returned and the stop raised. Pallet supply.-The base 10 and intermediate 12 pallets are fed from magazines 11, 14 respec: tively, Fig. 2, the magazines having gates 109, 101 which open to permit loading by lift fork truck. The magazines are similar and each comprise pairs of fingers 75, 76, Fig. 33, connected by links 76 for opposite horizontal reciprocating movement for indexing the pallets downwards to fall upon conveyers 9, 112. The base pallet magazine includes a stack counter (not shown). The base pallets are passed directly to the stacking position over a vertically reciprocable load support 8, Fig. 2, their movement being controlled by gates 72, 73. The intermediate pallets 12 are fed by the conveyer 112 (IP51, Fig. 8), the latter rising to a level above that of the conveyer 9, Fig. 3, above a reciprocating carriage 119. Forward movement of the carriage feeds a previously deposited pallet on to barrels on the support 8, and its retraction permits the pallet still in the path of the conveyer to drop on to a plate 124 forming part of the carriage. Stacking.-A base pallet on the conveyer 9, checked over the support 8 by stop 73, Figs. 1, 3, is raised to receive a group of four barrels from the rails 4, 5. At the end of the rails is a main transfer carriage K40 (see also Fig. 23) into which the barrels roll upon lowering of stops K1 Strips 56 (see also Fig. 39, not shown) fixed at one end and spring loaded at the other, straighten the barrels as the carriage retracts from above the pallet to permit the barrels to drop on to the pallet, the stops K1 having risen again to prevent their return with the carriage. The support 8 drops and an intermediate pallet is fed on by the carriage 119 followed by a further tier of barrels. If only two tiers are required, the support 8 descends to deposit the load on the conveyer 9 for discharge the load initiating a new cycle on its way out. Safety and other automatic controls.-The apparatus is fully automatic being pneumatically operated under electrical controls. Pneumatic and electrical circuits are exhaustively illustrated (Figs. 17-20, 24, 26, 27, 30, 34, 40-54, not shown). Means are arranged to prevent the carriage 119 from feeding a second intermediate pallet when one is in position on the stack, to stop the machine when air pressure is low, and to stop the conveyers when the chains are slack or overloaded (not shown). Audible and visual signals indicate when the pallet magazines approach exhaustion and the support 8 is prevented from recycling. Means is also provided to supply automatically soap lubricant to the conveyers by means of drip feed (not shown). Pallets.-The base pallets 10 and intermediate pallets 12 are illustrated in Figs. 2, 8, 23, 33.