Patent GB-878128-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the automatic loading of filled sacks, boxes and the like on to pallets
Inventor: STAINFORTH PETER TERRICK
IPC: B65G47/08
Filed: 1958-06-06
Abstract: 878,128. Packaging. IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES Ltd. June 5, 1959. [June 6, 1958], No. 18116/58. Class 94(1). A device for stacking articles such as sacks on pallets in layers, the arrangment of articles varying as between one layer and another, comprises means for, feeding the articles from two directions at right angles to assemble them on a plate, and means for stripping the articles from the plate to deposit them on a pallet. The pallet is lowered after receiving each layer. In one embodiment sacks S are fed by a conveyer 1 towards three feed conveyer paths 2, 4, 5 controlled by gates 6, 7. It is desired to arrange the layers with identical patterns but with alternate layers turned through 180 degrees and each layer consisting of five sacks assembled as shown in Figs. 8c or 8d. Initially the gate 6 directs the sacks along the path 2 to a marshalling platform 8, each sack moving to the remote side of the platform and then being drawn on to the assembly plate 13 by a reciprocating pusher 9. The latter has a hinged portion so that it may pass over a sack when moving in the reverse direction. Three sacks are assembled on the plate and photo-electric counting means then initiates closing of the path 2 by the gate 6 and opening of the path 4. Two sacks are fed on to the platform and from thence by the pusher 9 on to the plate 13 to complete the layer. The plate 13 now moves horizontally to a position over the pallet 15, the latter being temporarily clamped on a vertically movable platform (not shown). A stripper bar 16 descends and the plate 13 returns to its original position, the bar sweeping the layer on to the pallet. The path 2 is again opened to receive three sacks but, a bar 14 is raised from beneath the surface of the platform 8 so that the sacks abut this bar prior to being postioned on the plate 13 by the pusher. The path 2 is closed and the gate 7 opens the path 5 enabling a pair of sacks to be placed at the head of the other three to complete the layer. This layer is likewise deposited on the pallet which has meanwhile been lowered to receive it, and the sequence above is continued until eight layers are formed to complete the stack. In a modification of the above device (not detailed) the pallet is supported beneath the loading position of the plate 13 and the latter is stripped by the bar as it moves to one side. In a further modification, Figs. 8a, 8c, two pellets may be loaded as previously described with different articles. The conveyer 1 is fed by two conveyers 56, 57, and the two pallets are arranged one on either side of the plate loading position, the plate 51 being twice its previous length. Articles are first fed from the conveyer 56 to form a layer on the plate which then moves to position the layer over one pallet. In this position, different aricles are fed from the conveyer 57 to form a second layer. The plate moves to position this second layer over the second pallet and in so doing causes the first layer to be stripped on to the first pallet. This sequence is repeated until the desired stacks are obtained. The operation of the above embodiments is wholly automatic and may be controlled by limit, and cam operated switches, photo-electric and stepping relay means Figs. 3, 5-7, (not shown). A pallet dispenser as described in Specification 875,641 may feed pallets to the apparatus. Specification 841,644 also is referred to.