GB1412741A - Mechanical handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1412741 Apparatus for stacking articles side-by-side CHARCON PRODUCTS Ltd 6 Nov 1972 [4 Aug 1971] 36671/71 Heading B8C Apparatus, for moving into contact with one another a series of spaced-apart articles, such as pressed concrete kerb blocks 10, supported on a pallet 11, or similar carrier, comprises support means, such as side-by-side roller conveyers 7 mounted upon a frame 5, 6, for the carrier, or pallet 11, stop means, such as a buffer 8, for engaging the leading one of the articles to prevent movement thereof beyond the stop means, and means, such as a carriage 15, effective to move the pallet, or carrier, along the support means relative to, and beneath, the leading article whereby each successive article is moved with the pallet, or carrier, into contact with the preceding article. When the leading block 10 of the foremost pallet 11 is arrested by the buffer 8 as the pallet rolls down the conveyer 7, which slopes downwardly, slightly, from right to left, Fig. 1, spring-loaded latches 17 on the carriage 15, which is reciprocable along the frame 5, 6, snap behind the cross-braces of the pallet, whereupon the pallet is advanced by an amount sufficient to shunt the blocks into contact with each other as the pallet moves relative to the blocks. The compacted pallet load is then removed, e.g. by a grab, not shown, and the carriage 15 is returned to its starting position by an hydraulic 23 cam surfaces 25 on the latches 17 causing the latter to ride over the pallet cross braces and engage the succeeding pallet. When freed of its load the pallet 11 rolls forward beneath the buffer 8 and on to a correspondingly sloping platform 30 which is located, in its lowermost position within a stacker frame 34. When the pallet is correctly positioned the platform 30 is raised by a cylinder 33 acting through a scissors 32, the platform taking up a horizontal position after its initial vertical movement and then engaging the underside of the lowermost pallet in a stack within the frame. As it moves upwardly the pallet swings four stackretaining latches 35 outwardly which subsequently swing back into engagement with the fresh bottom pallet. The platform 30 is then lowered and finally tilted as one side engages a bracket 30A so as to extend in the same inclined plane as the conveyer 7.