GB1462677A - Manipulation of objects - Google Patents

Abstract

1462677 Variable spacing of article engaging devices; crating and uncrating SOC GENERALE POUR L'EMBALLAGE 14 June 1974 [15 June 1973 6 June 1974] 26421/74 Headings B8H and B8C A article engaging apparatus for transferring and varying the spacing of a plurality of articles comprises a chassis 1 slidably supported on a vertically displacable device 3. A plurality of load engaging devices 4a-4e, such as grippers, inflatable bulbs or suction heads, are slidably mounted on sliders 16 with springs 5 between adjacent load engaging devices on the same slider and aligned load engaging devices on different sliders are interconnected by a respective bar 15. A pneumatic actuator 6 is connected between the bars 15 interconnecting the load engaging devices 4a and 4e to vary the spacing therebetween, with the springs 5 enensuring equal spacing of the intermediate load engaging devices 4b-4d. The bar 15 of the load engaging devices 4a engages a stop 7 to fix the said load engaging devices relative to the chassis and the bar 15 associated with the load engaging devices 4e are engaged by a stop 18 which allows movement of the bar in one direction but not in the opposite direction whereby to maintain the springs 5 under tension. In an alternative embodiment Fig. 7 (not shown) the sliders (16) are also movable relative to one another under the action of a pneumatic actuator (6a) and have springs (5a) therebetween and are engaged by stops (7a), (18a) as in the first described embodiment. In use articles, such as bottles are advanced along a conveyer 8 into engagement with an abutment frame (10), Fig. 3, 5 (not shown) to stop the articles in aligned files with a spacing (14) or in staggered files with a spacing (14). The chassis is then positioned above the articles and the fixed load engaging device aligned with an article. The remaining load engaging devices are then aligned with the other articles by suitable operation of the actuator 6 or actuators (6), (6a) and then the chassis is lowered for the devices 4 to engage the articles. The chassis is then raised and the actuator(s) operated to adjust the spacing of the articles, such as, into engagement with each other, prior to the chassis being lowered to deposit the articles on a pallet or in a crate. The apparatus may be used to transfer the articles from the pallet &c. to the conveyer.