GB2085346A

GB2085346A - An article handling table

Info

Publication number: GB2085346A
Application number: GB8028082A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Imperial Group Ltd
Current assignee: Anglemaster Ltd
Priority date: 1980-08-29
Filing date: 1980-08-29
Publication date: 1982-04-28
Also published as: GB2085346B

Abstract

A top surface is divided into a horizontal fixed portion 11a and a second portion 11b mounted for rotation about a horizontal shaft 13 in the vertical plane. The second portion includes an upstanding support member 17. An article is slid from the fixed portion onto the rotatable portion which is rotated in the vertical plane to present an end face of the article to a heat sealing device. The rotatable portion is then returned to the horizontal, the article is rotated about a vertical axis, and the process repeated so as to present a further face of the article to the heat sealing device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to the handling of articles Technical Field This invention relates to improvements in the handling of articles, in particular stretch-wrapped or shrink-wrapped articles the wrapping material of which is to undergo a further operation such as heat sealing or the application of adhesive or labels.

BackgroundArt In our pending British patent application 2035250A there is described an apparatus and method for stretch-wrapping articles such as packages of cigarette cartons containing, for example, 500 cigarettes. After being stretch-wrapped the packages are heat sealed on a heat sealing machine in the vicinity of the stretch-wrapping apparatus. Hitherto, the packages have been manually transported to the heat-sealing location and manually up-ended so that both ends may be heat-sealed. This procedure is relatively slow and arduous and can result in minor muscular strains and tiredness. It is an object of the invention to overcome these disadvantages.

The Invention According to the present invention there is provided an article handling table having a top surface comprising a first fixed horizontal portion and a second portion provided with an upstanding support member and rotatably connected to the first portion by a shaft lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the first portion and at right angles to a dividing line between the portions.

Preferably the position of the shaft with reference to the centre of gravity of the second portion is such that, when the second portion carries no load it lies in the same plane as the plane of the first portion, and when an article is placed on the second portion an pushed into abutment against the support memberthe plane of the second portion assumes a position at an angle to the plane of the first portion.

The table is preferably provided with a stop member so as to limit the rotation of the second portion to a required angle.

The table may be used in conjunction with a heat sealing or label or adhesive application device whereby, when the second portion is at an angle to the first portion an end of an article supported by the second portion may be heat sealed, labelled, or treated with adhesive.

Drawings The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is an oblique view of the table in conjunction with a heat sealer and, Figure2 is a simplified side view of the table only taken in the direction of arrow II in Figure 1.

Description Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a table 10 having a top surface 11 divided into two flat portions 11a and 11b. Portion 11a is horizontal and is fixed to table legs 12. Portion 11 b is rotatable relative to portion 1 lea about an axis defined by a horizontal shaft 13 extending from under portion 1 lea across the dividing line 14 between the portions 11a,11b, at right angles to the line 14, to the underside of portion 1 1b to which the shaft is fixed.Portion ill is provided with a guide member 15 dependent from its underside, the guide member being arranged to abut against a top member 16 mounted on the side of the table so as to limit clockwise rotation (as viewed in the direction of arrow II) of portion I Ib.

Portion 11bis provided at is back edge with an upstanding support member 17. The positioning-of the shaft 13 relative to the centre of gravity of portion 11 b is such that, when 1 1b carries no load, its flat upper surface lies in the same plane as that of portion 11 a, as illustrated in Figure 1, and when a load is placed on 1 1b and pushed into abutment with support member 17 the portion 1 1b rotates anti clockwiseto a position wherein its upper surface is now substantially vertical and the support member 17 is horizontal.

In Figure 2 there is shown the two positions of portion 1 1b when (a) it carries no load (solid line) and (b) when it carries a package (dashed line).

Anticlockwise rotation of 11bis constrained by a stop 18 on the side of the table.

In Figure 1 there is further shown portions of the jaws 20 of a stretch-wrapping apparatus such as is illustrated for example in our published British patent application no. 2035250A, and a heat sealing apparatus of known design indicated generally at 21.

The heat sealing apparatus 21 comprises a hollow support pillar 22 mounted on a floor stand 23, the pillar supporting a framework 24 to which is pivoted a pair of support arms 25 carrying between them a heat-sealing element 26. The support arms 25 are normally spring-loaded in a raised position by a spring 27. The heat-sealing element is pulled down to an operative position by a wire 29 passing down through the pillar and attached to a pedal 29 mounted on the floor stand 23.

In operation, a pack 30 that has been stretchwrapped is drawn from jaws 20 onto portion 11a of the table. The pack is then slid onto portion 1 1b and placed in abutment with support member 17. The application of pressure against support member 17 unbalances portion 11b and causes it to rotate anticlockwise about shaft 13 so that the pack comes to rest in a vertical position underneath the heat sealer. The stretch wrapping material at the end of the pack is heat sealed by depressing pedal 29 to bring the heat sealer into contact with the pack. After the pedal has been released, the operator returns the pack to the horizontal by pulling it towards him and thereby rotating table portion 11 b clockwise to the horizontal position. The pack may now be easily rotated so that the heat sealed end is placed in abutment against support member 17. The other end of the pack may now be heat sealed in like fashion.

The invention enables heat-sealing or similar operations to be carried out on packages with a minimum of manual handling of the packages.

Instead of a heat-sealer the apparatus may be used with an adhesive applicator, a label applicator or a printer.

The apparatus may be provided with trip switches or valves so that in operation it brings into use a stretch-wrapping machine or other apparatus at a predetermined point in the cycle.

Claims

1. An article handling table having a top surface comprising a first fixed horizontal portion and a second portion provided with an upstanding support member and rotatabie connected to the first portion by a shaft lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the first portion and at right angles to a dividing line between the portions, whereby an article carried on the second portion may be rotated in the vertical plane and retained by the support member.

2. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein the position of the shaft with reference to the centre of gravity of the second portion is such that, when the second portion carries no load it tends to lie in the same plane as the plane of the first portion, and when an article is placed on the second portion in abutment against the support member the second portion rotates about the shaft and the plane of the second portion assumes a position at an angle to the plane of the first portion.

3. A table as claimed in claim 2 wherein the table is provided with a stop member so as to limit the rotation of the second portion to a required angle.

4. A table as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second portion is provided with a guide member dependent from its uderside, the guide member being arranged to abut against the stop member so as to limit the rotation to the required angle.

5. The combination of an article handling table as claimed in any preceding claim with an apparatus for applying to the article a heat seal, label, adhesive, print or the like.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein the apparatus comprises an upright support member adjacent the table, arm means pivoted to the support member, the arm means carrying means for applying to the article a heat seal, label, adhesive, print or the like, said arm means being spring-loaded in a raised position over the second portion of the table, and means to bring the arm means down to an operative position wherein the heat seal, label, adhesive, print or the like may be applied to the article when on the second portion of the table.

7. An article handling table substantially as he rein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. The combination of an article handling table with an apparatus for applying to the article a heat seal, label, adhesive, print or the like, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany ing drawings.