FR2719527A1 - Handling system for wheeled stillages in confined spaces, e.g. semi-trailers - Google Patents

Abstract

Stillages are loaded from the tail-board (8). The driving chain runs in a guide along the centre line of the compartment, driving a fixed shoe which has a projection acting as a stop for the first stillage (5) to be loaded and pushes on the stillage during unloading. Moveable driving shoes (32) are fitted onto the chain between pairs of dogs as each stillage is loaded. At full travel, the fixed shoe strikes a limit switch, stopping the chain. Pneumatic rams (132) controlled by the lever (135) press pads (128) against the stillage sides to squeeze them against the opposite sides (140,141) of the compartment. To unload, the lever (135) is lifted, releasing air pressure, and stillages are pushed out by reversing the chain.

Description

SEMI-AUTOMATIC TROLLEY HANDLING APPARATUS
The present invention relates to a semi-automatic apparatus intended for the handling (entry and exit) of trolleys on wheels, these trolleys having to be placed in a row in compartments or corridors provided for this purpose, these corridors being able to be of limited height, as , for example, in mobile gear compartments, such as trucks, towed trailers, semi-trailers. These machines, which transport empty and full carriages, most of the time have several compartments; they can be on floors, each floor being itself divided. For example, the transport of hospital waste can be done this way.

 It can however be envisaged that the apparatus according to the invention is adapted to compartments or corridors in a fixed position, in the factory for example.

 One of the problems which arises, in particular in the case of the mobile compartments, which are narrow and deep, is that the handler is required to push and withdraw the carriages in the leaning position, which represents strenuous and tiring work for the back in particular, knowing that the manipulations can be very numerous on machines comprising many compartments.

 The Depositing Company therefore sought to develop equipment that could provide a solution to this problem.

The present invention therefore firstly relates to the new industrial product that constitutes a semi-automatic apparatus for handling the entry and exit of carriages, these carriages having to be placed in line in particular in compartments of mobile machines, said apparatus. being characterized by the fact that it comprises - a rolling chain comprising a strand disposed
along the length of the compartment - a shoe fixed on said chain and movable with it
on the aforementioned strand between a front end position
if we consider the direction of handling or running,
corresponding to a maximum loading of the carriages, and
a rear terminal position where it is located
distance of a carriage length from the end
rear, said shoe fixed on the chain comprising a
stop against which the first carriage comes to bear
at loading to constitute the starting point of the step
of the chain and which pushes the carriages to the
exit - as many removable shoes as there are carts that can
be placed on the chain, one of these removable clogs
being optional, each removable shoe being
likely to apply on the chain between
two cleats fixed on it for this purpose, ending with
the optional shoe, after loading each
carriage, each shoe having a stop marking the
not and used to train each time at loading
the last loaded trolley - chain drive means in both
meaning ; and - means for controlling the drive of the chain.

 In a preferred embodiment, the removable shoes are adjustable so that their stop comes to bear, during its installation, against the last loaded carriage, the carriages being able to have variable lengths. Preferably, the means for adjusting the removable shoes are constituted by one (or more) rack (s) fixed (s) at the rear of the shoe in the operating position, with which one or more cooperates a pawl carried by a slide carrying the movable stop and mount on the shoe pad.

 According to a characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the rolling chain is mounted on a support fixed to the floor or floor of the compartment and comprises a strand parallel to the aforementioned strand, two end sprockets being provided for the passage of chain.

 The apparatus according to the invention may advantageously include a limit switch at the front capable of cooperating with a lug carried by the shoe fixed on the chain, to block the system in the event of a false operation for safety reasons, and a rear limit switch capable of cooperating with a lug carried by the rear cleat of the pair of cleats closest to the fixed shoe, or with a lug carried by each of the removable shoes, to block the system in the event of a false operation For safety reasons.

 The drive means consist in particular of a gearmotor connected to the chain drive pinion, and the control means is in particular a step-by-step control means, the pitch corresponding at least to the length of a carriage, a single gearmotor which can be used for the control of several apparatuses arranged in respective compartments of the same overall system, such as a mobile machine, for example in compartments of the same stage of said machine for the simultaneous control of the entry or exit of several trolleys, each in a compartment.

 According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the fixed shoe comprises a shoe by which it is fixed on the chain, said shoe being folded in front to constitute a stop tab, a side cheek being provided as mechanical reinforcement.

 The apparatus according to the invention may also include means for guiding the carriages during movement in the compartment and / or means for ensuring lateral locking of the carriages in place, for example for transport, these means being able to be adapted to trolleys of variable width. In particular, the lateral blocking means of the carriages can be arranged to cooperate with a rear limit switch of said apparatus for blocking the system in the event of a false operation for safety reasons.

 The present invention also relates to a mobile machine comprising at least one device as defined above.

 To better illustrate the object of the present invention, several embodiments will be described below, by way of indication and without limitation, with reference to the appended drawing.

On this drawing
- Figure 1 is a partial schematic view in
perspective of the body of a four-wheeled vehicle
aisle compartments, tailgate open, showing
trolleys handling equipment according to
the invention with carts in place
- Figure 2 is a partial top plan view of a
apparatus according to the invention installed on the ground or
floor of a floor of the body, the tailgate of the
vehicle open, and the locking device
lateral being in rest position
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view,
showing the front part of the apparatus according to
the invention, the shoe fixed on the chain being located at the
front pinion support
- Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views respectively in
rear side, top and end elevation
a removable shoe
- Figure 7 is a partial view corresponding to the
Figure 2, showing the side locking device
carriages in active locking position; and
- Figure 8 is a sectional view along VIII-VIII of the
Figure 7.

 In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" are used in the ordinary sense of the running of a vehicle and of handling.

 If we refer to Figure 1, we can see that we have represented by 1 as a whole the vehicle body (truck, towed trailer, semi-trailer, etc.) divided into four equal compartments 2 by a middle floor 3a which forms two floors, each floor itself being divided in two by a middle partition 4.

 Each corridor compartment 2 thus formed is intended to receive carriages 5 (three in the example shown) (Figure 7), which will roll on the middle floor 3a or on the lower floor 3b. Each carriage 5 has two rear wheels 6 with pivoting yokes and two front wheels 7 with fixed yokes. The latter two could just as easily have pivoting yokes.

 The body 1 of the vehicle is shown with its tailgate 8 open and at the bottom, thus allowing the entry and exit of the carriages 5 in the two lower compartments. We can see that the tailgate 8 is operable in translation in the deployed position to come in the extension of the floor 3a, then allowing entry and exit one by one of the carriages 5 of the upper compartments 2. The tailgate 8 comprises, in a known manner, ramps 9 facilitating access to the carriages 5 in the compartments 2.

 On the ground or floor (3a or 3b depending on whether the compartment is higher or lower) of each of the compartments 2, is installed the support 10 of a semi-automatic handling apparatus according to the invention.

We will now mainly refer to
Figures 2, 3 and 7 to describe a support 10, which is arranged along the average longitudinal line of the associated compartment 2.

 A support 10 comprises two elongated elements 10a, 10k, on which are arranged two rails respectively 11a and 11b, made of a sliding material such as polyamide and polyethylene.

 A roller chain 12, closed on itself, made of steel for example, is guided in these rails 11a and 11d, passing at each end of the support 10 on two respective sprockets, namely a rear sprocket 13, free, and a front pinion 14 which constitutes a drive pinion, connected by a chain (not shown) to an electric gear motor (also not shown). Under the control of the gear motor, the chain 12 can advance or retreat each time by a desired length (either a length of carriage or not).

 The pinions 13 and 14 are protected by housings 15 and 16 respectively. In the vicinity of each casing 15, 16 and between the two elements 10a and 10k of the support 10, a rear limit switch 17 and an end are fixed to the floor 3 respectively. before 18, the role of which is indicated below.

 A shoe 19, which can be designated as the head shoe, is fixed on the chain 12 and is capable of moving with it in the part corresponding to the element 10b of the support 10, between a front position as shown in the Figure 2 and a rear position where it is at a distance of one carriage step from the rear (that is to say simply in place of the removable middle shoe in Figure 7). The movement of the chain 12 and therefore of the shoe 19, is defined by the setting of a timer (not shown).

 As can be seen in FIG. 3, the shoe 19 comprises a shoe 20 by which it is applied and fixed on the chain 12. This shoe 20 carries, on the inside and in its plane, a tab 21 provided with a notch 22 on its edge facing forward. I1 is thus formed a lateral lug capable of coming to cooperate with the limit switch 18 as will be described below.

 The shoe 20 is extended, forwardly, by an oblique part 23 followed by a horizontal part 24, then again by an oblique part 25, which constitutes a stop. The parts 23 and 24 delimit a space receiving the corresponding part of the support 16 of the front pinion 14 in the front end position of the shoe 19. The latter is completed laterally, on the outside, by a reinforcement cheek 26.

 On the chain 12, there are also fixed, at the pitch of the carriages 5, as many pairs of cleats as the apparatus may include carriages, that is, in the example shown, the pairs of cleats 27a-27k, 28a-28k and 29a -296. The cleats of the same pair are spaced apart by a length of a removable shoe (which will be described later), and the different pairs are spaced apart according to the length of the carriages, by a distance which will also be specified below. These cleats are plates fixed by any appropriate means to the chain 12. However, the cleat 27b, which is the rear cleat of the pair of cleats closest to the shoe 19, has an internal lateral extension 30, which comprises, along from its lateral edge turned towards the rear, a notch 31; a lug is thus formed capable of coming to cooperate with the limit switch 17 as will be described later.

 The apparatus also includes as many removable shoes 32 (Figure 7) as trolleys 5 which can be received in total.

 Each shoe 32 is intended to be placed between the tabs of the same pair. A shoe 32 will now be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6.

 This shoe 32 includes a shoe 33 in U, intended to be applied on the chain 12 by overlapping it. On the front of the shoe 33, a recess 34 is provided which is intended to be inserted under the front cleat of a pair of cleats, thus preventing the lifting of the shoe 32 in effort. On the rear part of the shoe 32 are fixed, arranged on either side, two racks 35, the facing teeth 36 of which protrude from the upper part of the shoe 33. In the vicinity of a rear end and on the side intended to be turned inward, is fixed on the pad 33 (or on the associated rack support), a tab 37 projecting, perpendicular to said flank, which comprises, on its edge intended to be turned backwards, a notch 38; there is thus formed a lug intended to come to cooperate with the limit switch 17 as will be indicated below.

 On the upper part of the shoe 32, a slide 39 is mounted in its guides 40. This slide 39 externally carries a stop 41 which is perpendicular to it.

 With the teeth 36 of the racks 35, cooperates a pawl 42 articulated at 43, the articulation axis 43 being behind the stop 41, the bearing 44 of said axis 43 being formed by elements integral with the stop 41 and / or backstage 39.

For the control of the equipment which has just been described, provision is made on a control box B
- a pulse control button, to trigger the
timer, which, via a relay,
controls the operation of the gear motor for movement
carriage length
- a two-position reversing button (FRONT-REAR),
which allows to reverse the direction of movement of the
chain 12; and
- a stop called "punch", which allows, in case of
problems, to completely shut down the system
- if the bodywork has several floors,
a floor selection button; and
- a light and sound control lamp, operating
during the timed travel time of the
chain.

The apparatus according to the invention operates as follows
Loading carts
Suppose that no trolley 5 is in the corridor compartment 2. The operator, located at the rear, selects the handling stage, places the reversing button in the REAR position, he presses the button to pulses to bring the head shoe 19 to a carriage length from the rear, that is to say substantially at the level of the space which is between the cleats 28a and 28b if one looks at FIG. 2. The operator pushes his first carriage 5, pivoting wheels 6 at the rear, to bring it into abutment against the part 25 of the fixed shoe 19. I1 then places a removable shoe 32 between the two tabs 27a-27b which are then located behind him. The carriages 5 which he handles can have variable lengths, he will proceed to wedging the carriage 5 which he has just installed by manipulating the pawl 42 to come to bear the stop 41 against the carriage 5, in other words, it catches the play by maneuvering this pawl, which it then engages in the corresponding teeth 36 of the racks 35.

 The operator then programs the reverser in the FORWARD position and then presses the pulse button, thus controlling the advancement of the chain 12 until it stops. The shoe 32 which he has just installed is at this time at a distance of carriage length from the rear.

In other words, a new length of carriage is freed up and he can thus place his second carriage 5, then in the same way, between the cleats 28a and 28k, another removable shoe 32.

 The operation is restarted as many times as there are carriages 5, in other words in the case of the example, is restarted once, the last removable shoe 32 being placed between the cleats 29a and 29b, for the purpose of security.

 The stop of a removable shoe is used each time to drive the last loaded cart; it marks time on the chain; the last carriage engaged bears on the preceding carriage.

Unloading
The operator removes the shoe 32 which is at the rear, reverses its direction of travel and proceeds to the reverse operations.

 The stop 25 of the fixed shoe 19 plays, in this movement, the pulling role of all of the carriages 5 located on the chain, the operator withdrawing each time the carriage which comes before him pushed by the previous one; at the end, the stop 25 allows the last carriage to be brought back to the last rear position from which the operator can manually exit the latter.

 The removable shoes 32 can be stored on supports installed against a side wall of the compartment 2, within easy reach of the operator. Also, against the bottom of the compartment 2, can be arranged pads 45 intended to dampen the front of the first carriage 5 put in place (Figure 2).

Safeties are implemented as follows
If, at the start of loading, when he wants to bring back the shoe 19, the operator operates the chain 12 in the wrong direction, the lug 21 comes to cut the control circuit by cooperation with the limit switch 18.

Similarly, if, once the shoe 19 in the rear position, the operator forgets to reverse the direction of travel of the chain 12, the lug 30 cooperates in the same way with the limit switch 17 to cut the circuit of ordered. Also, each time he wishes to push a carriage 5 towards the front of a compartment 2, if he reverses the direction of travel, the lug 37 of the associated shoe 32 comes to cooperate with the limit switch 17 to block the system.

 The carriages 5 that we are called upon to handle have widths which can vary within certain limits. During transport, the carriages can move sideways, which is not desirable.

 The device 124, making it possible to ensure lateral locking, will now be described. This device is the subject of a patent application filed today in the name of the Depositing Company, having the title: "Device for lateral locking of trolleys placed in line in particular in compartments of mobile machinery".

 I1 has as many holding arms 125 as there are carriages 5. These arms 125 are here arranged near a side wall of the corridor compartment (here the outer wall 126). In the non-blocking position, they come into alignment with each other, along a horizontal line parallel to the wall 126 at a small distance from the latter. Each arm 125 has a length substantially corresponding to that of a carriage 5. Furthermore, the arms 125 are arranged at a height such that they are each opposite a side of the carriage, for example at the level of the barrier shocks or lower reinforcement of the carriage, once the aisle 2 has been filled.

Each of the arms 125 is constituted by an iron in
U 127 receiving a profile 128 in a guide and clamping material such as poly (vinyl chloride) or a rubber, by which it will come to bear against the carriage 5, so as not to damage the wall thereof .

 In cross section and in the mounting position, the profile 128 has, especially in the case where the arm is intended to come into contact with a bumper or lower reinforcement, a free oblique edge 128a (Figure 8), oriented in such a way so that it will come to bear by its lower part against the upper edge of the bumper or reinforcement, thereby ensuring a wedging in height of this carriage as will be described later. In the drawing, there is shown a profile 128 of this type, but as here the arms 125 are presented as coming to bear against the vertical wall proper of a carriage 5, the free edge 128a of the profile could also be parallel to said wall.

 The arm 125 which is intended to cooperate with a carriage 5 coming to be situated at the front of the aisle compartment 2 is articulated at 129 on an axis carried by an element fixed against the bottom 126a of said aisle compartment 2. The other arms 125 are articulated each at 130 on an axis carried by a support 131 fixed to the side wall 126. In the example illustrated, two such supports 131 are provided, a support of the same type 131a being disposed opposite the rear arm 125, the supports 131 and 131a thus playing a role in guiding the movement of the arms 125 as will be described below.

 In the vicinity of their rear end, the arms 125 are connected, by their U-shaped irons 127, to the side wall 126 by gas cylinders or compasses 132, arranged in the horizontal plane and obliquely, as shown, allowing the thrust of the arms 125 in the horizontal plane in the direction of the carriages 5, around their axes of articulation. These compasses 132 are designed to exert sufficient thrust to maintain the carriages 5.

 The device 124 also comprises a longitudinal axis 133 arranged parallel to the wall 126, below the gas compasses 132, and capable of pivoting in different bearings 134 provided for this purpose, which are fixed to the wall 126. In the example shown, bearings 134 are arranged under the supports 131 and 131a as can be seen in Figure 8; other bearings can also be provided, for example at an equal distance from the bearings 134. The control shaft 133 is secured, at the rear, to an operating arm 135, perpendicular thereto.

 The axis 133 carries as many links 136, perpendicular to said axis 133, as there are carriages 5. These links 136 are each connected by a chain 137 to an arm 125, more precisely in the vicinity of the rear part of the arm 125 in the example shown. In the non-blocking position of the device 124, in which the arms 125 are aligned and parallel to the wall 126, the links 136 are arranged in a plane parallel to the wall 126, and above the axis 133, the associated chains 137 then being stretched under the effect of the compressed compasses 132.

 Finally, at its rear end, each arm 125 has a slide 138 which is integral with it and which is arranged substantially perpendicular thereto, this slide 138 being capable of sliding in a slide 139 provided for this purpose in the associated support 131 or 131a (Figure 8). There are thus formed means for guiding the arms 125 in their displacement around their axes of articulation 129 or 130.

 Similarly, the partition wall 4 of the corridor compartment 2 comprises, at the height of the arms 125, arranged horizontally, a U-shaped iron 140, applied by its bottom against the partition wall 4, in which is a profile 141 substantially identical to profiles 128. Thus, in the mounting position, the free edge 141a of this profile 141 is also oblique, so that the carriages 5 are in the locking position for example in contact by their bumpers or lower reinforcements with the part bottom of profile 141.

 In cooperation with the profiles 128, this ensures a jamming of the carriages, in particular of empty carriages which could tend to be lifted in particular when the vehicle is traveling on roadways comprising retarders.

The lateral locking device 124 operates in the following manner
In the non-blocking position (Figure 2), the operating arm 135 is raised and hooked against the side wall 126, and the arms 125 are in the extension of each other. In this position, as indicated above, the chains 137 are tensioned and the gas compasses 132 are compressed. It is also in this position that there is a guide of the carriages 5 at the inlet and at the outlet, by the aligned arms 125, in cooperation with the guide 140-141.

 Once the carriages 5 are in place, the operator lowers the lever 135, as shown in Figure 7.

The axis 133 pivots with its links 136, and the compasses 132 exert their thrust, the arms 125 moving towards the carriages 5 with the slides 138 moving in the slides 39 adapted accordingly.

 The chains 137 are always taut because of the permanent effect of the compasses 132, and this tension is exerted until each arm 125 meets a carriage 5. A chain 137 does not relax until it encountered a carriage 5, the effect of the associated compass 132 then being exerted on the latter. It will be understood that, in the locking position, the chains 137 associated with the carriages 5 of greater width are looser.

 It goes without saying that the length of the chains 137 and connecting rods 136 and the position thereof are chosen to allow such operation.

 Once the lever arm 135 is folded back, it comes, in the final blocking position, to be placed against the end of travel 17, thus blocking the electrical circuit, and preventing the control of the handling of the carriages 5.

 When he wants to unlock the system at the time of unloading, the operator raises the lever 135 again and hooks it against the wall 126; the chains 137, if they were relaxed, are tightened, and an effort is manually exerted to compress the gas compasses 132.

 Means can also be provided to prevent the tailgate 8 from closing if the operator has failed to set up the lateral locking device once it has been loaded.

 It is understood that the embodiment described above is in no way limiting and may give rise to any desirable modifications, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

 1 - Semi-automatic apparatus for handling the entry and exit of carriages (5), these carriages (5) having to be placed in line in particular in compartments (2) of mobile machines, said apparatus being characterized in that '' it comprises - a rolling chain (12) comprising a strand (Ilb)  arranged along the length of the compartment - a shoe (19) fixed on said chain (12) and movable  with it on the aforementioned strand (llb) between a position  terminal before if we consider the direction of handling  or walking, corresponding to a maximum loading of  carriages (5), and a rear end position where it  located at a distance of a carriage length from  the rear end, said shoe (19) fixed on the chain  having a stop (25) against which the first  carriage (5) comes to bear on loading to constitute  the starting point of the chain step and which ensures the  pushing of the carriages (5) at the outlet - as many removable shoes (32) as there are  trolleys (5) which can be placed on the chain, one of  these removable shoes (32) being optional, each shoe  removable (32) being capable of being applied to  the chain (12) between two cleats (27a-27b; 28a-28k  29a-29a) fixed on it for this purpose, ending with the  optional shoe, after loading each cart,  each shoe (32) comprising a stop (41) marking the  not and used to train each time at loading  the last loaded trolley - chain drive means (12) in the  both directions ; and - means for controlling the drive of the  chain (12).  2 - Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the removable shoes (32) are adjustable so that their stop (41) comes to bear, during its establishment, against the last loaded trolley, the trolleys (5) may have variable lengths.  3 - Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for adjusting the removable shoes (32) consist of one (or more) rack (s) (35) fixed (s) to the rear of the shoe (32 ) in the operating position, with which one or more a pawl (42) carried by a slide (39) carrying the stop (41) and movably mounted on the shoe (33) of the shoe (32).  4 - Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rolling chain (12) is mounted on a support fixed to the floor or floor of the compartment and comprises a strand (lla) parallel to the aforementioned strand ( il), two end sprockets (13 - 14) being provided for the passage of the chain (12).  5 - Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a limit switch at the front (18) capable of cooperating with a lug (21) carried by the shoe (19) fixed on the chain (12), to block the system in the event of a false maneuver for safety reasons, and a limit switch (17) at the rear capable of cooperating with a lug (30) carried by the rear cleat (27b) the pair of cleats (27a - 27b) closest to the fixed shoe (19), or with a lug (37) carried by each of the removable shoes (32), to block the system in the event of a false maneuver for reasons of security.  6 - Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the drive means consist of a gearmotor connected to the drive pinion (14) of the chain (12), and in that the means control is a step-by-step control means, the pitch corresponding at least to the length of a carriage (5), a single geared motor which can be used for the control of several devices arranged in respective compartments of the same system of 'together, as a mobile machine, for example in compartments of the same floor of said machine for the simultaneous control of the entry or exit of several carriages (5), each in a compartment.  7 - Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fixed shoe (19) has a shoe (20) by which it is fixed to the chain (12), said shoe being folded in front to constitute a stop tab (25), a side cheek (26) being provided as a mechanical reinforcement means.  8 - Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises means (124 140 and 141) for guiding the carriages during movement in the compartment (2) and / or means (124 ) to ensure lateral locking of the carriages (5) in place, for example for transport, these means (124) can be adapted to carriages of variable width.  9 - Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the means (124) for lateral locking of the carriages (5) are arranged to cooperate with a rear limit switch (17) of said apparatus for blocking the system in the event of a false maneuver For safety reasons.  10 - Mobile machine comprising at least one device as defined in one of claims 1 to 9.