GB1574036A

GB1574036A - Mechanical handling device

Info

Publication number: GB1574036A
Application number: GB1781577A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MECHSTAN ENG CO Ltd
Current assignee: MECHSTAN ENG CO Ltd
Priority date: 1978-04-27
Filing date: 1978-04-27
Publication date: 1980-09-03

Description

(54) A MECHANICAL HANDLING DEVICE (71) We, MECHSTAN ENGINEERING CO.

LIMITED, a British Company, of Landor Walk, Askew Road, London, W.12., do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a mechanical handling device for a plurality of substantially identical articles.

According to the present invention we provide a mechanical handling device for substantially identical articles that enter it, said device comprising lifting and lowering means in the form of a lever actuated by a ram, said lifting and lowering means having engaging means that sequentially engage with and disengage from one of said articles as said engaging means co-operates with an adjustable stationary guide that is adjustable in relation to the height of said substantially identical articles, said sequential engaging and disengaging being synchronised with the movement of an article or articles into or out of the device.

It is preferred that the substantially identical articles be handled at a continuous regulated speed. Alternatively where articles vary in size they may be palletised or provided with predetermined registers.

The said articles may, for example, be metal ingots, cylindrical objects, metal cans, glass or rubber or plastic containers, rubber types, crates or irregular shaped articles such as fruit and vegetables, they may be bottles or plastics materials such as bags, or plastics containers and the like which may vary in size aund shape and yet are contained within a single container that is acceptable to the device. The device for handling such articles may be positioned at the end of an assembly line and stack or destack such articles.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description given by way of example with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a stacking and destacking device, Figures 2 and 3 show in 1st angle orthographic projection respectively a plan and an end elevation of the device.

Figure 4 shows to an enlarged scale in oblique perspective details of the parts within the circle IV of Figure 3.

Figure 4A is a diagrammatic detail of Figure 4 showing the arcuate movement of a plate (179) when its lever (18) is rotated through an angle a.

Figures 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E shows five different forms of plates for clamping articles fed to the device of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figures 6 and 7 are two schematics showing respectively the modems operandi of the device of Figures 1, 2 and 3 when stacking or destacking articles.

Figures 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D show the device of the invention in four schematics that exemplify its operation with articles fed to it from a moving conveyor.

Referring now specifically to the Figures of the drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a moving conveyor 10 that conveys an article Al to a control stop valve 11 which activates a piston 12A. The piston 12A moves a ram 12B downwardly to pivot support levers 131, 132 about their mdividual pivots 14 and via ends 15 raise support brackets 161, 16 through the medium of toggles 151, 15, Support brackets 16l, 16 each carry a pivotable plate 171, 172 actuated by levers 18l, 18a that register in their vertical travel with stationary but adjustable guides 19A1, l9A2; 19B1, 19B2. Plates 17l, 172 are, by virtue of their co-operation with guides 19A1, 19A2; 19B1, 19B2 and levers 181, 182 caused to move in toward and from the sides of the article A1 to engage with or disengage from an abutment ridge R on said article At thereby to engage with or disengage from the article At. (See Figure 4A movement of edge of plate from A to B and B to A).

The plates 171, 172 may be clamped to enable varying sizes and shapes to register against the article surface so that they may accommodate any shape of article. A number of different plates are shown in Figure 5, such plates may be made of metal, rubber, plastics or like materials. The plates may incorporate spring-loaded or like materials. The plates may incorporate spring-loaded pins (Figure 5C) toothed edges 5A, single or double serrated edges (5B, 5E) or spring-loaded or compressed air pins with bars (SD).

Referring now to Figure 6 there is shown a sequence of five drawings VII, VIII, VIIII, VIIV, VIV to be understood as advancing from left to right. An article A1 enters the device of the invention by a conveyor C for stacking with substantially identical articles A2, A3 - An. An article A1 enters (Figure VI1) and plate 172 is lifted (by 152-162 not shown in Figure 6 but see Figure 4) and lever 182 is released from guide 1 9A2 and moves into a path V1 V2 from path V3 (Jd2) at the same time plate 172 drops under its own weight to clamp with its opposite member, not shown, the sides of A2 and register with abutment ridge R. The left continues (via 15, 162 not shown). In Figure VIII article A1 is lifted above the conveyor C to a distance h2 (152, 162 now descend).

In Figure VIIII an article A2 has entered beneath article A1. Article A1 is now dropped as plate 172 descends and reengages via 182 with guide 19A2. Lift is again applied and plate 172 now grips and clamps article A2 and lifts it to a height h2 (h2=hl Figure Viiv) and the action is repeated as Al upon A2 are lowered onto the newly entered article A3 Figure VIV and the cycle is repeated for article An.

Referring now to Figure 7 there is shown a sequence of three drawings VIII, VIIII, VIIIIII to be understood as advancing from left to right. Substantially identical articles Al, A2, A3 - An enter the device of the invention for destacking. Articles A1, A2, A3 enter at Figure VIII. In Figure VIIII, plate 172 has been raised from guide 19A22 to clamp article A2 under abutment ridge R, distance do having been closed to d2 by means of guide 19B2.Articles A2 and A3 are now lifted to height Hl. A2 is now removed by conveyor C Figure VIl'111 and articles A2, A1 descend for article A2 to be removed by the conveyor and similarly for articles A3-AIl.

It is to be understood that distances d2 d2 and heights h2 h2 H1 are readily adjustable to suit the height (her) of ridge R on articles A2, A2, A2, An and that guide l9B2 of Figure 7 is redundant in the stacking operation of Figure 6. Again guide 19A2 is readily removable and replaced by guide 19A22 in the destacking operation of Figure 7.

In Figure 8A articles A2, A2, A3 ~ An in stack Al have entered the device of the invention shown generally at 100 by means of conveyor C. Articles A2, A2, A1 are shown leaving the device at A11, A21, A31 and stacks A11 AIII are waiting to enter the device.

In Figure 8B articles A2, A2, A3 ~ An are shown entering the device 100 of the invention for stacking into stack AIII which is then moved out of the device 100 on conveyor C when a new stack will be formed.

Stacks A1 AII are shown already formed.

In Figure 8C stacked articles at 110 are shown being destacked and moved away at a higher level 111.

Figure 8D shows the reverse of Figure 8C in that articles at a high level 111 are moved away at a lower level 110.

It is to be understood that the bottom guides in a stacker and a destacker are different and their interchangeability is ensured by the use of suitable fixing means.

Both the stackers and the destackers of the invention may be used in a linear or other array and may be subsequently actuated by automatic sequence means, digital pulse means, electronic counter, pneumatic timers and or photocells; thereby to ensure that the articles for stacking and destacking are accurately controlled.

It is further to be understood that the conveyor may have a drive that is controlled by the article or articles registering with a stop that sends a signal to the said drive.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A mechanical handling device for substantially identical articles that enter it, said device comprising in combination lifting and lowering means in the form of a lever actuated by a ram, said lifting and lowering means having engaging means that sequentially engage with and disengage from one of said articles as said engaging means co-operates with an adjustable stationary guide that is adjustable in relation to the height of said substantially identical articles, said sequential engaging and disengaging being synchronised with the movement of an article or articles into or out of the device.

2. The mechanical handling device according to claim 1 wherein the engaging means comprises a pair of opposed members each separately pivotable and actuable toward and away from each other about

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. levers 181, 182 caused to move in toward and from the sides of the article A1 to engage with or disengage from an abutment ridge R on said article At thereby to engage with or disengage from the article At. (See Figure 4A movement of edge of plate from A to B and B to A). The plates 171, 172 may be clamped to enable varying sizes and shapes to register against the article surface so that they may accommodate any shape of article. A number of different plates are shown in Figure 5, such plates may be made of metal, rubber, plastics or like materials. The plates may incorporate spring-loaded or like materials. The plates may incorporate spring-loaded pins (Figure 5C) toothed edges 5A, single or double serrated edges (5B, 5E) or spring-loaded or compressed air pins with bars (SD). Referring now to Figure 6 there is shown a sequence of five drawings VII, VIII, VIIII, VIIV, VIV to be understood as advancing from left to right. An article A1 enters the device of the invention by a conveyor C for stacking with substantially identical articles A2, A3 - An. An article A1 enters (Figure VI1) and plate 172 is lifted (by 152-162 not shown in Figure 6 but see Figure 4) and lever 182 is released from guide 1 9A2 and moves into a path V1 V2 from path V3 (Jd2) at the same time plate 172 drops under its own weight to clamp with its opposite member, not shown, the sides of A2 and register with abutment ridge R. The left continues (via 15, 162 not shown). In Figure VIII article A1 is lifted above the conveyor C to a distance h2 (152, 162 now descend). In Figure VIIII an article A2 has entered beneath article A1. Article A1 is now dropped as plate 172 descends and reengages via 182 with guide 19A2. Lift is again applied and plate 172 now grips and clamps article A2 and lifts it to a height h2 (h2=hl Figure Viiv) and the action is repeated as Al upon A2 are lowered onto the newly entered article A3 Figure VIV and the cycle is repeated for article An. Referring now to Figure 7 there is shown a sequence of three drawings VIII, VIIII, VIIIIII to be understood as advancing from left to right. Substantially identical articles Al, A2, A3 - An enter the device of the invention for destacking. Articles A1, A2, A3 enter at Figure VIII. In Figure VIIII, plate 172 has been raised from guide 19A22 to clamp article A2 under abutment ridge R, distance do having been closed to d2 by means of guide 19B2.Articles A2 and A3 are now lifted to height Hl. A2 is now removed by conveyor C Figure VIl'111 and articles A2, A1 descend for article A2 to be removed by the conveyor and similarly for articles A3-AIl. It is to be understood that distances d2 d2 and heights h2 h2 H1 are readily adjustable to suit the height (her) of ridge R on articles A2, A2, A2, An and that guide l9B2 of Figure 7 is redundant in the stacking operation of Figure 6. Again guide 19A2 is readily removable and replaced by guide 19A22 in the destacking operation of Figure 7. In Figure 8A articles A2, A2, A3 ~ An in stack Al have entered the device of the invention shown generally at 100 by means of conveyor C. Articles A2, A2, A1 are shown leaving the device at A11, A21, A31 and stacks A11 AIII are waiting to enter the device. In Figure 8B articles A2, A2, A3 ~ An are shown entering the device 100 of the invention for stacking into stack AIII which is then moved out of the device 100 on conveyor C when a new stack will be formed. Stacks A1 AII are shown already formed. In Figure 8C stacked articles at 110 are shown being destacked and moved away at a higher level 111. Figure 8D shows the reverse of Figure 8C in that articles at a high level 111 are moved away at a lower level 110. It is to be understood that the bottom guides in a stacker and a destacker are different and their interchangeability is ensured by the use of suitable fixing means. Both the stackers and the destackers of the invention may be used in a linear or other array and may be subsequently actuated by automatic sequence means, digital pulse means, electronic counter, pneumatic timers and or photocells; thereby to ensure that the articles for stacking and destacking are accurately controlled. It is further to be understood that the conveyor may have a drive that is controlled by the article or articles registering with a stop that sends a signal to the said drive. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A mechanical handling device for substantially identical articles that enter it, said device comprising in combination lifting and lowering means in the form of a lever actuated by a ram, said lifting and lowering means having engaging means that sequentially engage with and disengage from one of said articles as said engaging means co-operates with an adjustable stationary guide that is adjustable in relation to the height of said substantially identical articles, said sequential engaging and disengaging being synchronised with the movement of an article or articles into or out of the device.

said pivots by means of a crank arm one end of which co-operates with the said guide.

3. The mechanical handling device according to claim 2 wherein the opposed members are opposed plates.

4. The mechanical handling device according to claim 3 wherein the opposed plates have opposed serrated edges.

5. The mechanical handling device according to any preceding claim wherein the articles enter on a conveyor.

6. Tfie mechanical handling device according to claim 5 wherein the conveyor has a drive that is controlled by the article or articles registering with a stop that sends a signal to the drive.

7. The mechanical handling device of any preceding claim wherein the synchronization of the movements is such that a stacking of substantially identical articles is performed, a plurality of substantially identical articles entering the device singly, the first article being engaged is lifted to a height greater than the height of the substantially identical articles lowered and disengages by the appropriate means vertically to stack it upon the following second article, the second (lower) article being then engaged and lifted to the said height with the first article on top and the two stacked articles lowered onto the following third article and the second article disengaged, the movements being repeated for the remaining articles entering the device to stack them.

8. The mechanical handling device of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the synchronization of movements is such that a destacking of a plurality of vertically stacked substantially identical articles is performed, the plurality entering the device and the article that was engaged disengaged, bottom of the stack being engaged lifted with the other articles upon it to a height above the height of the substantially identical articles to allow the bottom article to be removed and the stack being lowered an dthe article that was engaged disengaged, which article now forms the bottom article of the stack, the article on top of it now being engaged and lifted with the other remaining articles upon it to the said height to allow the bottom article to be removed and the stack again lowered, the movements being repeated until the stacked articles are destacked.

9. A mechanical handling device constructed and arranged substantially as described herein and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

10. A stacking of substantially identical articles whenever effected by the mechanical handling device of any one of claims 1 to 7 and 9.

11. A destacking of substantially identical articles whenever effected by the mechanical handling device of any one of claims 1 to 6 and claims 8 and 9.