CA1088117A - Depalletiser - Google Patents

Depalletiser

Info

Publication number
CA1088117A
CA1088117A CA303,478A CA303478A CA1088117A CA 1088117 A CA1088117 A CA 1088117A CA 303478 A CA303478 A CA 303478A CA 1088117 A CA1088117 A CA 1088117A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
platform
movable
pallet
tier
goods
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA303,478A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John Van Den Bergh
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Depallorator Corp Ltd
Original Assignee
Depallorator Corp Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Depallorator Corp Ltd filed Critical Depallorator Corp Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1088117A publication Critical patent/CA1088117A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G57/00Stacking of articles
    • B65G57/02Stacking of articles by adding to the top of the stack
    • B65G57/16Stacking of articles of particular shape
    • B65G57/20Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical
    • B65G57/22Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical in layers each of predetermined arrangement
    • B65G57/24Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical in layers each of predetermined arrangement the layers being transferred as a whole, e.g. on pallets
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G59/00De-stacking of articles
    • B65G59/02De-stacking from the top of the stack

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • De-Stacking Of Articles (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention relates to a machine for unloading tiers of goods from a pallet onto a take-off surface.
The machine includes a platform which is vertically movable for alignment sequentially with the uppermost tier of goods on a pallet and the take-off surface.
To steady the pallet during transfer of goods onto the platform, a pair of plates are movable laterally to grip the next to uppermost tier, the latter plates being also movable vertically so as to allow the platform to descend to the level of the lowermost tier in the pallet.

Description

The presen-t invention rela-tes to a depalletiser or a palletiser, that is to say a machine tor unloading tiers of goods from a pallet onto a take-of~-sur~ace or for loading goods onto pallets ~rom a supply surface.
In British Patent Specification ~o. 1~94832, there is described a depalletiser for unloading tiers of goods ~
from a pallet onto a take-off surface which comprises a ~ i vertically movable platform, lifting means for aligning ¦
the platform sequen-tially with the individual tiers and with the take-off surface and transfer means movable _ with the platform for transferring the goods of successive tiers from the pallet to the platform when the platform is aligned with each respective tier and from the platform to the take-off surface ~hen the platform is aligned with the take-off sur~ace.
'~h~ above patent application also teaches the p~ovision of means for steadyin~ the tier of goods immediately below the uppermost tier so as to stea~y the stack of goods on the pall~t during transfer of the uppermost ~ier. It is necessary to stead~ the pallet as th~ goods are being t;rans~erred in order to prevent the whole pallet from being upset~ ~he means for steadying the tier o~ goods immediately below the uppermost tier comprise a pair of pla-tes ` A~ ¦
, 25 depending from the platform and movable la-terally to ~ ¦ `
I steady the next-to-uppermost tier.
A problem encountered with the apparatus described in the above application resides in the ~act , ........ . .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . ~ . ., . .. .. , . . . . j .

. . . . ,. . ...................... -... .: .

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~8~7 that the plates for locating about the next-to-uppermost tier constituted an obstruction preventing the table from being lowered down to ground level, so that it was not possible to support a pallet directly on the ground and transfer the goods from the lowermost tier onto the table.
With a view to mitigating the disadvantage in the machine described in British Patent Specification No. 1,494,832, in accordance with the present invention, the plates for locating about the next-to-uppermost tier are movable vertically relative to the platform. This may either be achieved by arranging the gripping plates to be pivotable about the horizontal axis upon reaching a lowermost position or by mounting them for sliding movement relative to the platform.
In ~ritish Patent SpeciEication No. 1,494,~32, when the platform onto which the goods are transf~rred from the pallet is brought into alignment with a take-off surace, a flap is lowered in order to bridge the gap between the platform and the take-off surface. A further br:idge was provided between the pallet and the platform which entailed accurate positioning of the pallet in relation to the platform in order for smooth transfer to be achieved.
In order to overcome the above disadvantage, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, `
the platform is movable not only vertically :
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~ t7 for alig~nent with the respective tiers of a pallet but also horizontally in order to bring the platform into engagement ~ith the respective tiers and subsequently into alignment with the take-off surface.
The invention will now be described further, by ~Yay of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a depalletiser in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an end elevation of the depalletiser in Figure l, and Figure 3 is a plan view.
In the drawings, there is shown a depalletiser genorally designated 10 wllich removes successive tiers 12, 1~, etc. from a pa11et 16 ancl transfers tllem to a take-off surface which is not sholYn. The take-off surface ~ `
in practive may be the conveyor belt of a factory line or an accumulating table~ A small fixed transfer platform 18 is provicled at the height of the take-off surface.
The depalletiser includes a table or plat-~orm 2~
which is mounted on a subframe generally designated 22.
The subframe 22 is movable vertically on a pair of columns 2~ by means of a motor 26 which is connected to the subframe 22 by means of a suitable transmission. For example, the sub~rame 22 may be raised and lowered by means of a chain powered by the motor 26 or a screw jack serving to drive the subframe 22 vertically may be clriven by the motor 26.

~ 3 ~

, ' .: . : . ~ :- .: . : :- : - - -1~138~7 The platform 20 is itself movable horizontally relative to the sub~rame 22, the horizontal movement being achieved by means of a hydraulic jack ~2 shown in Figure 3.
A transfer mechanism generallv designated 40 is providad for transferring goods from the pallet onto the platform 20 and subsequently from the platform 20 onto -the take-off surface. ~he transfer m~chanism comprises a sweep arm 42 which is supported by means of a strutt 28 and bearings 30 on a horizontal rail L~
which is movable with the subframe 22. r~he sweep arm .
42 is driven by a chain mech~mism .not sho~n in detail which is in t~lrn powered by an electric motor 46 supported on the rail L~.
An arm 48 for steadying a tier o~ goods during .
its transfer is mounted on an adjustable telescopically collapsible extension 50 for mo~ement with the sweep arm 42. Wnlen transferring -tall bot-tles, or the like, the arm 48 serves to prevent the row o~ bottles at -the fron-t end o~ a tier ~rom toppling whilst it is being advanced b~ means o~ the sweep arm 42.
In order to steady the tier 14 whils-t goods from -the tier 12 are ~eing transferred onto -the platform 20, pla-tes 60 are arranged on each side o~ the pallets 16 and are movable laterally, to grip the pallet, by means of arms 62 ~hich are connected -to a hydraulic jack (not shown) .

_ 4 _ .

~, .

, . . .

~08831 ~7 arranged beneath the table 20. The plates 60 are pivotable mounted by means of a univPrsal joint 64 for movement in and out of the plane of the drawing of Figure 1 to grip the pallet 16 and they are additionally pivotable at the joint 64 about an axis perpendicular to the plane of Figure 1, the plates adopting the position illustrated in Figure 1 by virtue of their own weight. The joints between the plates 60 and the arms 62 which serve to move the plates laterally are also designed to permit vertical movement of the plate 60.
In operation of the machine shown in the drawings a pellet 16 is placed into position. The height of the sub-frame 22 is then adjusted by operation of the motor 26 until the platform 20 is level with the uppermost tier 12. This position can either be determined by means of an operator on hand or automatically i sensors are provided, in a conventional manner, to detect the :Level of the uppermost tier. The platform 20 is then moved horizontally to close any gap between itself and the uppermost tier 12. The plates 60 are then brought together by operation of the jack connected to the plate 60 via the arms 62, so that the arm 60 move laterall~r and grip the sides of the pallet.
When the table is correctly positioned and the pallet 16 suitably steadied by the plates 60, the sweep arm 42 moves from left to ri~ht as viewed in Fi~ure 1 to sweep the goods on the uppermost tier onto the platform 20. The . `
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`' . ~ : : ''. . , . ', .:

~08Eil lL~
space between the sweep arm 42 and the steadying arm 48 is adjusted by means of the telescopically collapsible tube 50 so that during this transfer the arm 48 serves to steady the front row of articles being transferred.
When all the goods of the uppermost tier are arranged on the platform 20, the plates 60 release the pallet 16 and the platform is moved away from the pallet and is lowered to aliyn with the smaller platform 18. The platform 20 is again moved horizontally and finally the sweep arm 42 continues its sweep to transfer the goods from the platform 20 onto the conveyor belt or accumulating table, as the case may be.
The above set of operations is repeated to transfer the next-to-uppermost tier, and so on until the lowermost tier is reached.
When transferriny ~oods from the lowermost tier onto the platform 20, during the descent of the platform 20 a microswitch is operated in a lowermost position of the platform 20 which operates a servomotor, preferably a pneumatic motor, to cause the plates to pivot about the joints 64 an~ not there-fore impede the descent of the platform 20. It will be notedthat the plates 60 have an inclined :Lower edge and this is so that this edge should lie just above and parallel to the floor when the platform 20 attains its lowermost position.

; 30 , l;ihilst the invention has been described with reference to a depalletiser, it should be app~eciated that the machine, with minor modifications, can operate in reverse as a palletiser, -there being substantially no significant struc-tural difference between the two machines.
..

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: : . . , -. . . ~. . ,

Claims (10)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A depalletiser for unloading tiers of goods from a pallet onto a take-off surface, comprising a vertically movable horizontal platform, lifting means for aligning the platform sequen-tially with the uppermost tier and with the take-off surface, and transfer means movable with the platform for transferring the uppermost tier of goods from the pallet to the platform when the platform is aligned with the tier and from the platform to the take-off surface when the platform is aligned with the take-off surface, wherein a pair of opposed plates attached to the platform and movable laterally towards one another to grip the next-to-uppermost tier are provided to steady the pallet during transfer of the uppermost tier of goods, the said plates being further movable vertically relative to the platform.
2. A depalletiser as claimed in claim 1, wherein a flap is provided for bridging the gap between the pallet and the platform.
3. A depalletiser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform is horizontally movable whereby to close any gap between the platform and the pallet and between the platform and the take-off surface.
4. A depalletiser as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the said plates are carried on arms pivotable about a horizontal axis so as to be vertically movable with respect to the platform.
5. A depalletiser as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the said plates are carried on arms pivotable about a horizontal axis so as to be vertically movable with respect to the platform, and in which a microswitch is provided operative to energize a servomotor for pivoting the said plates when the platform approaches its lowermost position.
6. A depalletiser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transfer means comprises a continuous chain and a sweep arm extending transversely across the platform.
7. A depalletiser as claimed in claim 6, wherein a further arm is provided movable with the said sweep arm to steady the foremost row of goods in each tier being transferred by the transfer means.
8. A depalletiser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the steadying arm is connected to the sweeper arm by means of a telescopically collapsible support so as to enable the distance between the two arms to be varied.
9. A depalletiser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform is secured on one side only to a sub-frame in a manner to be horizontally movable relative to the sub-frame, the said sub-frame being mounted for vertical movement on a support column.
10. A palletiser for loading tiers of goods onto a pellet from a supply surface, comprising a vertical movable horizontal platform, lifting means for vertically aligning the platform sequentially with the supply surface and with the uppermost tier of the pallet, and transfer means movable with the platform for transferring a tier of goods onto the top of the uppermost tier of the pallet from the platform when the platform is aligned with the uppermost tier and onto the platform from the supply surface when the platform is aligned with the supply surface, wherein a pair of opposed plates attached to the platform and movable laterally towards one another to grip the uppermost tier are provided to steady the pallet during transfer of a tier of goods onto the top of the uppermost tier of goods, the said plates being further movable vertically relative to the platform.
CA303,478A 1977-07-01 1978-05-16 Depalletiser Expired CA1088117A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB27690/77 1977-07-01
GB2769077A GB1596789A (en) 1977-07-01 1977-07-01 Depalletisers and palletisers

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1088117A true CA1088117A (en) 1980-10-21

Family

ID=10263724

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA303,478A Expired CA1088117A (en) 1977-07-01 1978-05-16 Depalletiser

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1088117A (en)
GB (1) GB1596789A (en)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4580938A (en) * 1983-10-12 1986-04-08 Fleetwood Systems, Inc. Method and apparatus for automatically de-bagging can ends and like articles
AU718712B2 (en) * 1996-06-25 2000-04-20 Itw Australia Pty Ltd Article transfer apparatus
AUPO063796A0 (en) 1996-06-25 1996-07-18 Becfab Equipment Pty Ltd Transfer apparatus
DE102008015278B4 (en) 2008-03-20 2010-04-29 Schaefer Förderanlagen- und Maschinenbau GmbH palletizing
CN105775756B (en) * 2016-04-27 2018-02-09 广东大铨机械设备有限公司 A kind of double-deck numerical control automatic board material-gathering device
FR3070680A1 (en) * 2017-09-07 2019-03-08 Gebo Packaging Solutions France TRANSFER OF LAYERS OF PRODUCTS SINCE OR ABOVE ON THE TOP OF A PALLET
CN111039004B (en) * 2019-12-31 2021-09-21 苏州埃缇益自动化科技有限公司 Sorting, conveying and unstacking mechanism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1596789A (en) 1981-08-26

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