EP0196325A1

EP0196325A1 - Grip conveyor for jumbo rolls of paper and products or containers with two parallel sides

Info

Publication number: EP0196325A1
Application number: EP85904972A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tullio Galliussi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-10-09
Filing date: 1985-10-07
Publication date: 1986-10-08
Also published as: IT8483426A0; WO1986002340A1; IT1181226B

Abstract

Un transporteur par serrage pour rouleaux géants de papier et autres produits, ou pour des récipients ayant deux côtés parallèles, se caractérise par le fait qu'il utilise deux leviers contrebalancés (2, 21) soutenus et actionnés par une traverse (1) et par un crochet central (6) qui, à leur tour, actionnent deux panneaux, ou pinces (3, 31) qui se rapprochent en exerçant un effet de serrage lorsque le crochet (6) est soulevé. En outre, un système de blocage d'une position "ouverte" est actionné par une roue dentée (10) fixée à une virole (11) avec des dents (12) qui enclenchent des rainures d'une barre verticale (7).A clamp conveyor for giant rolls of paper and other products, or for containers having two parallel sides, is characterized by the fact that it uses two counterbalanced levers (2, 21) supported and operated by a crosspiece (1) and by a central hook (6) which, in turn, actuates two panels, or clamps (3, 31) which come together exerting a tightening effect when the hook (6) is raised. Furthermore, a system for blocking an "open" position is actuated by a toothed wheel (10) fixed to a ferrule (11) with teeth (12) which engage grooves of a vertical bar (7).

Description

GRIP CONVEYOR FOR JUMBO- ROLLS OF PAPER AND PRODUCTS OR CONTAINERS VITH TWO PARALLEL SIDES.

This patent for an invention concerns a grip conveyor for jumbo rolls of paper and other products or containers which have two parallel sides.

It is a mechanical model characterized by its automatic gripping action on the sides of the coils, once in contact with the load to be lifted; so that the load might be moved around the factory without danger or slipping.

In fact this grip can be attached to the tackle or hooks of a crane for the movement of large coils of paper within factories, or for loading onto vehicles, trucks and other means of transport.. The grip is furnished with a mechanical device which facilitates its implementation.

At the moment there exist various models of grips for the movement of jumbo rolls of paper within factories. They are of an automatic, electrical type and so require a suitable electricity supply and they can sometimes be danger due to lack of proper maintenance, furthermore, a power failure could result in the load slipping and falling. Other paper-drum carriers are of the oil-dynamic type, so lack of proper maintenance can result in oil leaks from the propulsion system with the danger of damaging tons of paper, or, also in losses of pressure in the hydraulics system, resulting in the release of the load and endangering all operating personnel. Yet other carriers, of a mechanical design have roughened, knurled gripper panels, wich can damage the sides of the paper-rolls ; there is also the danger of the load being dropped if the machine is knocked.

Consequently, it was opportune yo design a completely safe, mechanical machine, eliminating all the negative qualities of existing machines, which was also automatic and could guarantee safety and reliability without damage to the pape This system satisfies these considerations. Firstly, it operates with pressure panels for lifting which are smooth and its mechanical design is based on a phased leverage system which guarantees maximum safety during use. As has already been indicated, the machine consists of two lateral, flat support panels which grasp the sides or base of the rolls. There length can be regulated by means of a regulator screw system (a handle turns a screw which simul¬ taneously alters the length of each panel) furthermore, these panels are linked by levers on the top supporting cross-bar and the single hook which supports the whole grip. The side panels are united to the top cross-bar and slide to take the load on the inner part so governing their regulation and rigidity. The levers are co-ordinated in orde to indirectly link the hook to the pressure lifting panels, so that when the load is raised the panels move towards each other by interaction of the levers and the weight of the loa With this leverage system and with the automatic assembly and slide movement, accidental release of the load can be avoided even when the machine is knocked or its position is not square, in fact the actual weight of the suspended load guarantees its own safety. This is-the real substance of the patent, as this system makes the machine very competitive both in quality and in cost of construction and operation (in fact only one operato is required, with great saving on personnel). The safety mechanism depends on the movement of the levers and their position in respect to the frame during the operative cycle. In fact, this mechanism is centrally positioned on the machine and consists of a cogwheel with eight positions unified to a ring-nut with four protruding sections.

The cogwheel is moved by opposite striker-plates or stops on the fixed part of the machine therefore the ring-nut also moves, it is positioned centrally at the intersection of the two levers, so as the height changes during the phases of operation the cog strikes against a striker plate and turns by an eighth of a cycle. The cogwheel and ring-nut are positioned on the moveable part of the machine and slide along a bar next to the ring-nut, which has two perpendicula notches (their distance is equal to the diameter of the ring-nut) and is fixed to the stable cross-bar of the machin The two grooves on the vertical bar, working in conjunction with the ring-nut are funtamental to the smooth working of the grip at any phase and position of the operation. In fact, when the machine is in a particular position the teeth of the ring-nut (four teeth, but only two strike : simultaneously) enter these grooves on the bar and stop the machine, in this position the panels are open in order to collect or release the load. Once positioned in the spaces between the teeth of the ring-nut, the fixed vertical bar will be free-moving, in which case the central hook can be raides and the leverage will cause the panels to grip the load. When the machine is attached to the crane, with the panels open and the leverage system blocked on the central bar in the aforementioned way, it can be lowered over the load; in doing this the cogwheel is lowered into the striker plates which move it. At this point the ring-nut also turns and so unblocks the central bar; when this is free the load can be lifted. The levers move and grip the load under pressure as the hook is raised by the crane.

When the optimum pressure has been reached for holding the drum of paper, the load is ready to be lifted and moved. The weight of the load pulling against the levers works in unison with the hold of the grip, to ensure a safe carriage without any risk of accidental release. During unloading, the machine lowers the product and simultaneously the gripper panels release it; the wheel turns and the ring-nut lodges into the grooves of the centra bar, locking the panels into the open position; at this point the machine can be used for the succeeding operation. The machine can also simultaneously transport two drums of paper, side by side, this can be done automatically where the products are of equal length, simply by lowering and lifting the grip, but where the dimensions vary, an operator will have to regulate the opening of the gripper panels. This can be done manually with the regulator handle and screw or other automatic methods can be added, for example an electric motor, etc...The two plates inclosed illustrate an example, but in no way limiting, design of the invention:

- Fig.1 shows a perspective view of the grip conveyance with a load of two paper drums;

- Fig.2a shows a front view of the wheel assembly for the automatic.mechanical lever system for locking the machine in position;

- Fig.2b a side view of figure 2;

- Fig.2c shows the grip over a jumbo roll in a reduced scale; - Fig.3a shows a schematized front view of the wheel assembly in a locked position, after the ring-nut has turned in order to grip load;

- Fig.3b side view of Fig.3a; - Fig.3c reduced scale view of the grip in action;

- Fig.4a as Fig.2a but in a release position;

- ig.4b shows a side view of Fig.4a;

- Fig.4c reduced scale, front view of gripper in open position with panels locked in readiness for next operatio The design of the machine comprises of one unmoveable part (1) that is, a bar along which the gripper panels run and on which two levers are counter-balanced (2) & (2.1) these operate the panels indirectly (3) & (3.1) by means of the symmetrical adjustable spacer (4) & (4.1).The levers (2 & 2.1) on the top arm are counterbalanced on a rod (5) support by a hook (6). A vertical, grooved bar (7) with two notches (8) is attached to the central unmoveable part of the machine; this runs through an external support (9) on which there is cogwheel (10) fixed to a ring-nut (11) with protruding teeth (12) set at a perpendicular angle to rotation axis .

These four teeth (12) are so spaced to permit the free vertical movement of the bar (7), while they can still lock it in "open" position by moving into the two grooves (8) in order to release load or to prepare for the subsequent operation.

The rotation of the ring-nut depends on the motion of the cogwheel (10); this occurs only when the machine rests on its own weight, either on a load or on the floor; this conta sets the teeth in motion by an eighth of a cycle at a time until the teeth of the ring-nut are positioned in apposite grooves (8) . These.-explanations and illustrations are intended as an example and are not in the least limiting; other variations can be introduced to the design without departing from the inventive principal described above.

Claims

CLAIMS :

- 1 - Grip conveyor for drums of paper and other products or containers with two parallel sides, characterized by its use of two counterbalanced levers operated and supported by a crossbar and hook, which in turn operate the two flat panels, or grips which tighten when the hook is raised.

Furthermore there is a locking system in the "open" positio of the grips operated by a cogwheel attached to a ring-nut with perpendicular teeth; these can block into the vertical bar with grooves perpendicular to the ring-nut. The cogwheel is attached to the moveable part of the machine and it is set in motion when the machine is lowered for loading and rests on its own weight; the cogwheel rotates and thus the machine is unlocked from the "open" position (the teeth of the ring-nut move out of the grooves) so that the load can be gripped and lifted automatically.

- 2 - Grip conveyor is characterized also by a fixed, vertical central bar with two horizontal grooves; the teeth of the ring-nut which is attached to the cogwheel can lock into these grooves, two at a time. The ring-nut has four spaces and four teeth, while the cogwheel has eight teeth for the complete cycle. Therefore, during each phase of the operation, that is gripping, loading and unloading, the mechanism moves by one eighth of a cycle, this in turn operates the ring-nut whose teeth will either lock or unloc into the grooves of the vertical bar. These teeth can lock into the grooves, so that the gripper panels block in the open "position" ready for loading. - 3 - Grip conveyor according to one or more of preceding claims, is characterized by a locking and unlocking system for the "open" position of gripper panels; this can be operated either by the wheel assembly as described above, or some other suitable system (eg. he vertical bar could be moveable and the ring-nut fixed to the support; or, two cogwheels and two ring-nuts could be used) .

- 4 - Grip conveyor according to one or more of the claims above, characterized by a system of altering distance between the two gripper panels which is regulated by one or more screws, independently or in synchronicity, either manually or automatically (eg.electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically) .

- 5 - Grip conveyor as specified in one or more of the preceding claims, is characterized by the gripper panels which are flat and smooth, they are supported on a top, fixed cross-bar and run along this bar; furthermore they can be of a moveable type which can be variously angled and the panels can vary in shape.

- 6 - Automatic system for the opening and locking of the grippers according to one or more of preceding claims, characterized by fact that it can be utilized for any grip or machine for the movement of material.

- 7* - Grip conveyor according to one or more of the precedin claims, characterized by the fact that it is particularly suitable for movement of material within a factory (crane or other) in the paper industry (eg. umbo rolls of paper) or in any other sector of industry where it is necessary to lift and move products and containers with two parallel sides or - 9 - other .

- 8 - Grip conveyor for jumbo rolls of paper and products or containers with at least two parallel sides, constructed according to one or more of the previous claims and the description and illustrations here given.