Patent Description:
Devices for separating the boxed load from the respective pallet of the type fixed to the floor or of the mobile type are known.

A disadvantage of these known devices consists in the fact that they are complex and very bulky. For example, known mobile devices are subject to severe movement limitations due to their transverse bulk.

Some of these known devices can cause the risk of the load falling and/or damage to the boxes and their contents.

Prior document N. <CIT> discloses a device for separating a load from a pallet according to the preamble of claim <NUM> of the present document.

An object of the present invention is to propose a device for separating a load from the pallet supporting it relatively simple and capable of assuming a compact configuration with limited bulk.

Another object is to propose a fixed or mobile device able to move easily.

A further object is to propose a device capable of preserving the integrity of the load.

The characteristics of the invention are below highlighted with particular reference to the accompanying drawings in which:.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG> indicates the device for separating a load from the pallet supporting it, object of the present invention.

The load L can consist of boxes or other packages, possibly wrapped in tape, and has an overall approximately parallelepiped shape with a base almost corresponding to that of the pallet P which can be of any standard or proprietary shape and made of wood, plastic, metal and any other material.

The device <NUM> comprises at least one set of plate elements <NUM>, <NUM>, comprising a right plate-like element <NUM> and a left plate-like element <NUM> each consisting of a preferably metallic plate or slab, of reduced thickness constant or decreasing towards a free edge. Alternatively, the plate elements <NUM>, <NUM> can comprise two pluralities of plates, sheets or slabs, where the plates of each plurality are coplanar, separated by narrow slits and mutually fixed by a joining profile fixed to one of their edges to form a left and a right element.

Each plate or slab element <NUM>, <NUM> is operated, by respective insertion elements <NUM>, on a common, almost horizontal geometric plane defined by the surface of the pallet P which supports the load L.

Starting from a condition of maximum mutual spacing of the plate elements <NUM>, <NUM> lying on said horizontal plane and slightly spaced from the load L, the activation of the insertion elements <NUM> causes the translation of the plate elements <NUM>, <NUM> in mutual approach; in this way they insinuate between the load L and said surface of the pallet P. A subsequent operation of lifting elements <NUM> connected to said plate elements <NUM>, <NUM> translates the latter vertically to separate the load L from the pallet P. The lifting elements <NUM> may consist of suitable actuators, for example of the linear type, pantograph or the like, interposed between the plate or slab elements <NUM>, <NUM> and the floor or between these elements and a support structure of the same and fixed to or mobile on the floor. Alternatively, and as illustrated in the figures, the lifting elements <NUM> may comprise second guiding elements <NUM> and second actuating elements <NUM> as will be better explained below.

The device <NUM> comprises at least one rotation element <NUM> for each plate element <NUM>, <NUM> assigned to the rotation of the respective plate element <NUM>, <NUM> to orient it vertically or perpendicular to said geometric plane starting from their condition of maximum mutual spacing and vice versa for rotating the respective plate element <NUM>, <NUM> from vertical to horizontal orientation parallel to said geometric plane.

To avoid the risk of the load falling during its separation from the pallet or during any movements, the device is equipped with two side walls, right <NUM> and left <NUM>, mutually parallel and facing each other, arranged vertically and assigned to face respective opposite side faces of the load L. Preferably, and as illustrated in the accompanying figures, the two side walls right <NUM> and left <NUM> can be translated in mutual approach, to clamp the load, and in mutual distancing to release it.

The at least one set of plate elements <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a right plate-like element <NUM> and a left plate-like element <NUM> each sliding in a respective swivel and slide element <NUM> of the rotation element <NUM> and connected to the lower edge of the respective side wall right <NUM> or left <NUM> in a rotatable way around a horizontal rotation axis parallel to said lower edge.

Each swivel and slide element <NUM> comprises one or more elongated sections mutually connected and defining a longitudinal cavity for the sliding of the respective side wall <NUM>, <NUM>; the respective rotation element <NUM> comprises at least one oscillating arm <NUM>, for example in the shape of a "J", preferably a pair of oscillating arms for each rotation element <NUM>. Each oscillating arm <NUM> has one end, for example the upper one of the "J", fixed to the respective swivel and slide element <NUM> and the other end pivoted to said lower edge of the respective side wall <NUM>, <NUM> or to a hinge fixed to said edge. This configuration of the connection of the swivel and slide elements <NUM> to the respective side walls by means of the oscillating arms <NUM> allows for the rotation of the swivel and slide elements <NUM> around said rotation axis so that each plate-like element <NUM>, <NUM> can rotate between an operating position in which it lies on said geometric plane defined by the horizontal surface of the pallet P and a vertical transfer or rest position, in which it is almost parallel to the respective side wall <NUM>, <NUM> and external with respect to it.

The elongated and mutually connected section or sections of each swivel and slide element <NUM> comprises a plurality of pins and/or bushings <NUM> which transversely cross the longitudinal cavity of the swivel and slide element <NUM>. Each pin and/or bushing <NUM> is assigned to slide in a respective slot <NUM> of the corresponding plate-like element <NUM>, <NUM> at least to guide the sliding of the latter and to reinforce the swivel and slide element <NUM>. Alternatively, each pin and/or bushing <NUM> slides in the slits between the sheets of each plate-like element <NUM>, <NUM>.

Each rotation element <NUM> comprises at least one rotation actuator <NUM> whose ends are respectively connected to the swivel and slide element <NUM>, for example to a hinged pin fixed to the central portion of the swivel and slide element <NUM>, and to a hinged pin fixed to a portion, for example to a longitudinal reinforcement, of the respective side wall <NUM>, <NUM> for the rotation of the swivel and slide element <NUM> and of the respective plate-like element <NUM>, <NUM>.

Each insertion element <NUM> comprises at least one insertion linear actuator <NUM>, preferably two inclined actuators, the ends of which are respectively connected to the corresponding swivel and slide element <NUM> and to an edge, for example provided with a longitudinal reinforcement, of the respective plate-like element <NUM>, <NUM> for the sliding of the latter through the longitudinal cavity of the swivel and slide element <NUM>.

Two facing edges of the two side walls right <NUM> and left <NUM>, for example the edges corresponding to two vertical and smaller sides of the side walls, are slidingly connected to horizontal first guiding elements <NUM> and are operated by first actuating elements <NUM> allowing for mutual approach and removal of said side walls <NUM>, <NUM> to clamp and release the load L.

The first guiding elements <NUM> comprise at least one horizontal rail <NUM>, preferably two, fixed to a beam or plate, and each horizontal rail <NUM>, continuous or with separate sectors, is engaged by at least one horizontal carriage <NUM>, preferably two, for example with circulating spheres, fixed cantilevered and/or by means of a bracket to the respective side wall <NUM>, <NUM>. Each horizontal carriage <NUM> is constrained to be able to slide only along the respective horizontal rail.

The first guiding elements <NUM> are slidingly connected to vertical second guiding elements <NUM> and are vertically translated by second actuating elements <NUM> allowing for the raising and lowering of the load L clamped between the side walls <NUM>, <NUM> and allowing to adjust the minimum height from the ground of the side walls <NUM>, <NUM> according to the height of the pallet P.

The vertical second guiding elements <NUM> comprise at least one vertical rail <NUM>, preferably two, fixed to an upright or column. Each vertical rail <NUM> is engaged by at least one vertical carriage <NUM>, which also in this case can be with circulating spheres, fixed to the beam or plate of the first guiding elements <NUM>.

The upright or column of the second guiding elements <NUM> can be fixed, creating a load separation station constrained to the floor, or it is mounted on a self-propelled vehicle S, as illustrated in the figures. This vehicle comprises at least one driving and/or steering wheel and at least two front wheels separated by a distance greater than the width of the pallet P and approximately placed under the front portions of the side walls <NUM>, <NUM> placed at the maximum mutual distance. The vehicle can be equipped with combustion or electric motors for moving the vehicle itself and may include batteries and/or pneumatic or hydraulic sources for operating the actuators <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> with the energy they require. In fact, these actuators can be electric, pneumatic or hydraulic. The rotation actuators <NUM> can be of the linear type or of the rotary type.

Optionally, the internal faces of the side walls <NUM>, <NUM> have respective covering plates made of resilient material and with a high friction surface; the faces of the plate elements <NUM>, <NUM> are made of material or treated to achieve low sliding friction; moreover, the faces of the longitudinal cavity of each swivel and slide element <NUM> are provided with a coating of a low-friction material to facilitate the sliding of the respective side wall <NUM>, <NUM>, for example each swivel and slide element <NUM> can comprise, starting on one side thereof, a first elongated metal plate, a second and a third plate mutually separated by the longitudinal cavity, having the same or similar shape as the first plate and made of low-friction and high-resistance material such as nylon (aliphatic polyamide), teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene), delrin (polyoxymethylene) or the like and finally a fourth plate equal to the first one, where the first and second plates and the third and fourth plates are mutually fixed by the pins <NUM> while the respective bushings <NUM> or central enlargements of the pins can maintain the second and third plates distanced forming the longitudinal sliding cavity of the respective plate-like element <NUM>, <NUM>. In each slot <NUM> of each plate-like element <NUM>, <NUM> a single pin can slide, with or without the respective bushing, or a double pin comprising a pair of spaced rods whose line joining the respective axes is aligned with the slot <NUM> to ensure a precise guide, without jamming and slidable to the translation of the respective plate-like element <NUM>, <NUM> in the longitudinal cavity of the swivel and slide element <NUM>.

The operation of the mobile device in the figures provides that it is parked or moved with the plate-like elements <NUM>, <NUM> arranged vertically for minimum bulk and maximum ease of use. When a load to be separated from the pallet is placed between the side walls <NUM>, <NUM>, the activation of the first actuating elements <NUM> causes the mutual approach of these side walls <NUM>, <NUM> with consequent clamping of the load L; the operation of the right and left rotation actuators <NUM> causes the rotation of the swivel and slide elements <NUM> and, with them, of the plate elements <NUM>, <NUM> which are thus arranged onto the horizontal geometric plane of the pallet loading surface; the subsequent actuation of the insertion linear actuators <NUM> causes the intrusion of the right and left plate elements <NUM>, <NUM> between the pallet P and the load L. The separation is then obtained by lifting the plate-like elements <NUM>, <NUM> and the side walls <NUM>, <NUM> by activating the second actuating elements <NUM>.

In a variant of the device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the rotation actuators <NUM> and the linear insertion actuators <NUM> are of the electric, hydraulic or other type, such that their control and operation allows to regulate with continuity respectively the incline angle A of the swivel and slide elements <NUM> and of the respective right <NUM> and left <NUM> plate-like elements with respect to the surface of the pallet P and the sliding of the internal edge of the right <NUM> and left <NUM> plate-like elements along the respective transverse coordinate X lying on said geometric plane defined by the surface of the pallet P; this allows for varying the inclination of these plate-like elements <NUM>, <NUM> as a function of the transverse position X of their internal edge.

The transverse coordinates X of the right <NUM> and left <NUM> plate-like elements point towards each other so that each one increases in value with the entry of the respective plate-like element <NUM>, <NUM> under the load. The transverse coordinates X of the plate-like elements <NUM>, <NUM> lie on the same line which is almost orthogonal to the side walls <NUM>, <NUM>. The transverse position of the internal edge of the plate-like elements <NUM>, <NUM> coincides with the vertical projection of this internal edge on the transverse coordinate X. The angle A is measured between the surface of a swivel and slide element <NUM>, or between the sheet-like element, and the respective side wall.

An operator of the device <NUM> can thus manually and independently control the rotation actuators <NUM> and the insertion linear actuators <NUM> so as to optimize the incline of the plate-like elements <NUM>, <NUM> when they are inserted between the load L and the pallet P and when such plate-like elements <NUM>, <NUM> advance transversely. For example, the operator can adjust the angle A to a value between <NUM>° and <NUM>° when inserting the plate-like elements <NUM>, <NUM> between the pallet and the slightly raised load, and then gradually bring it to approximately <NUM>° as the plate-like elements <NUM>, <NUM> penetrate under the load or as the respective coordinates X increase. This greatly facilitates the insertion of the plate-like elements <NUM>, <NUM> between the surface of the pallet P and the load L.

Optionally, the device <NUM> also comprises sensor elements for detecting the angle A of incline and the transverse coordinate X of the position of each plate element <NUM>, <NUM>. These sensor elements can be directly associated with the plate elements <NUM>, <NUM> or they can also be attached to other parts of the device <NUM>.

The device <NUM> can also comprise a control unit to which at least the rotation actuators <NUM> and the insertion linear actuators <NUM> and the sensor elements are connected, to control the inclination of each plate element <NUM>, <NUM> as a function of the corresponding sliding along the transverse coordinate X according to a predetermined programmable function in the control unit, to facilitate the insertion of the plate elements <NUM>, <NUM> between the pallet P and the load L.

Claim 1:
Device for separating a load (L) from the pallet (P) supporting it, comprising at least one set of plate elements (<NUM>, <NUM>) operated by respective insertion elements (<NUM>) at least on a geometric plane defined by the surface of the pallet (P) supporting the load (L) to insinuate between the load (L) and said surface of the pallet (P) and operated by respective lifting elements (<NUM>) to separate the load (L) from the pallet (P); said device further comprising two side walls, right (<NUM>) and left (<NUM>), mutually parallel, arranged vertically and assigned to face respective opposite side faces of the load (L) and further comprising at least one rotation element (<NUM>) for each plate element (<NUM>, <NUM>) assigned to the rotation of said plate element (<NUM>, <NUM>) to orient it with respect to said geometric plane, characterized in that said at least one set of plate elements (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a right plate-like element (<NUM>) and a left plate-like element (<NUM>) each sliding in a respective swivel and slide element (<NUM>) of the rotation element (<NUM>), where each swivel and slide element (<NUM>) is connected to the lower edge of the respective right (<NUM>) or left (<NUM>) side wall in a rotatable way around a horizontal rotation axis parallel to said lower edge.