GB2113645A

GB2113645A - Rotary platform

Info

Publication number: GB2113645A
Application number: GB08201685A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kent Gustaf Pettersson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-01-21
Filing date: 1982-01-21
Publication date: 1983-08-10
Also published as: GB2113645B

Abstract

A horizontal rotary platform 1 for supporting a load while an operation such as wrapping is carried out is mounted close to the ground by means of rollers (20) for rotation about its centre 2 and provided with a recess 3 extending from the edge of the platform past the centre 2 so that the fork of a fork lift truck may enter the recess to place the load on the platform. The platform is driven by an electric motor 16 by way of driving wheels 18 and 19 spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the recess. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rotary platform This invention relates to a rotary platform for supporting load material, which is primarily intended for use in wrapping the material loaded on it by means of shrink or stretch film of plastics or like material.

This permits handling the packing material at a fixed station, the load material being rotated relative to this station. This is of particular importance in treating with shrinkfilm, because the heating units used for this purpose include hoses which are difficult to handle and are easily damaged and not suitable for moving around the load material.

A rotary platform according to the invention is capable of being mounted close to the ground for rotation about its centre, and is provided with a recess extending from the edge of the platform for the fork arms of a fork lift truck or the like, so as to allow the forks, while resting against the ground, to enter into the platform in such manner that a load placed on the fork arms can be deposited on the platform. This rotary platform can simply be mounted directly on a concrete floor or the like, there being no obstacle whatsoever to prevent the fork arms from resting against the ground, usually by means of wheels. Thus the fork arms can be pushed without resistance into the recess of the platform for depositing and collecting the load material.

The invention will be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example, an embodiment of the rotary platform and in which: Figure lisa top view of the platform; and Figure 2 is a side view.

The platform 1 is of low height and is mounted on the ground for rotation about its centre 2. The platform 1 is provided with a recess 3 extending from the edge of the platform, for the fork arms of a fork lift truck or the like, so as to allow the forks while resting against the ground, to enter into the platform 1 in such manner that a load placed on the fork arms can be deposited on the platform 1.

The recess 3 extending from the edge is in the general form of a U having its legs 4 and 5 situated on either side of, and extending past the centre 2 of the platform 1, while the portion 6 between the legs 4 and 5 contains the centre 2 of the platform 1, which centre is provided with a bearing for the platform 1.

The bearing suitably includes a pivot pin arranged on a plate which is secured by means of bolts to the ground which consists, e.g. of a concrete floor.

The platform 1 may, of course, itself serve as a base for the load material to be wrapped, the load material being suitably placed on a pallet. In the embodiment shown, however, the platform 1 is provided with a pair of rollers 7 and 8 for supporting the load 9 which, in this example, is cylindrical in shape, such as rolls of paper and the like. The rollers 7 and 8 are parallel with each other and arranged transversely of the recess 3 in the platform 1, one roller 7 being situated on the side of the centre 2 of the platform 1 remote from the mouth of the recess 3, while the other roller 8 is situated on the other side of the centre 2 of the platform 1. To permit the fork arms to pass into the platform 1 with the load 9, the roller 8 is made in two parts situated on opposite sides of the recess 3. The roller 8 is lower than the roller 7.The roller 8 thus aliows the load 9 to pass over it while the roller 7 serves as a stop for the load when this is introduced to the platform 1. In addition, the distance of the outer roller 8 from the inner roller 7 is adjustable.

During the wrapping operation the-cylindrical load 9 resting on the rollers 7 and 9 needs to turn through a certain angle while the platform 1 completes a revolution. One of the rollers 7 and 8 therefore is driven. As shown, the roller 7 is driven, the relative movement of the platform 1 and the ground 10 being utilised for the driving operation. As shown in the drawing, the fixed pin about which the platform 1 rotates, is provided with a chain wheel 11 which, via a chain 12, co-operates with a chain wheel 13 mounted on the platform 1 and driving, via a gear 14, a chain 15 which, in its turn drives the roller 7. In this connection the gear ratio is so chosen that the cylindrical load 9 turns through a desired angle while the platform 1 completes one revolution.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the platform 1 is of circular shape and preferably it is so large that pallets and cylindrical loads 9 can be situated inside the periphery thereof. This eliminates the risk of the wrapping operator being hurt by protruding parts. The circular shape also has the effect that the platform 1 is easily driven by means of an electric motor 16. Thus, the platform 1 is provided with a driving unit 17 co-acting with the periphery of the circular platform 1 and formed so as to bridge the portion of the recess 3 situated at the periphery.

The driving unit 17 includes two spaced-apart wheels 18 and 19, gear wheels or the like, driven by the motor 16 and co-acting with the periphery of the circular platform 1. The periphery can simply consist of a sheet metal band set up edgewise, with or without rubber covering. It may also be formed with teeth or with a chain for the engagement of the gear wheels.

The platform 1 consists of a relatively thin metal sheet which is provided on its underside with reinforcement beams. These are so arranged that rotary supports 20 for the platform 1 can be mounted on their underside. The rotary supports 20 which are situated adjacent the periphery of the platform 1, but also could be situated adjacent the recess in the platform 1, consist of cylindrical rolls. These rolls 20 are mounted on radially directed axles which are slightly inclined in a downward-inward direction towards the centre 2 of the platform 1. The inclination is so chosen that the rolls 20, after driving in, effect a rolling motion without slipping.

The driving unit 17, like the centre pin, is fitted in a plate which is secured to the floor by means of bolts.

More exactly, the driving unit 17 is so arrnged that it is situated altogether below the loading plane of the platform 1 so that any projecting load is not obstructed by it. As shown, the motor 16 is located in a recess 21 in the floor 10.

When the wrapping operation is completed the platform 1 should be turned so that the load can be easily collected by the fork lift truck or the like. For this purpose the platform 1 coacts at its periphery with a contact which is preferably semi-protected and has an adjustable time relay by means of which the platform 1 can be brought to a stop in the desired angular position.

The turning movement required for the wrapping operation proper is initiated by a pedal or the like, which operates in such a way that the turning movement is immediately interrupted when the pedal action ceases. Thus the operator does not risk being hurt if he for some reason should lose control.

The invention is not restricted to that described above and shown in the drawing, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A rotary platform for load material, which is primarily intended for use in wrapping the material loaded on it by means of shrink or stretch film of plastics or like material, the platform being capable of being mounted close to the ground for rotation about its centre, and being provided with a recess extending from its edge for the fork arms of a fork lift truck or the like, so as to allow the forks, while resting against the ground, to enter into the platform in such manner that a load placed on the fork arms can be deposited on the platform.

2. A rotary platform as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recess extending from the edge of the platform is substantially in the form of an U having its base at the edge of the platform and its legs situated on either side of, and extending pastthe centre of the platform, while the portion between the legs includes the centre of the platform, which centre is provided with a bering for the platform.

3. A rotary platform as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and also including a pair of parallel rollers extending transversely of the recess for supporting a load, one roller being situated on the side of the centre of the platform remote from the mouth of the recess while the other roller is situated on the other side of the centre of the platform and comprises two spaced parts situated on opposite sides of the recess.

4. A rotary platform as claimed in claim 3 wherein one of the rollers is driven as a result of relative rotary movement of the platform and the ground.

5. A rotary platform as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is of circular shape.

6. A rotary platform as claimed in claim 5 and also comprising a driving unit co-acting with the periphery of the circular platform and formed so as to bridge the portion of the recess situated at the periphery.

7. A rotary platform as claimed in claim 6 wherein the driving unit includes two spaced-apart driven wheels, gear wheels or the like co-acting with the periphery of the circular platform.

8. A rotary platform as claimed in claims 6 or 7 wherein the driving unit is situated entirely below the loading plane of the platform.

9. A rotary platform as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the driving unit includes an electric motor and the platform co-acts at its periphery with a contact connected to an adjustable time relay by means of which the platform can be brought to stop in a desired angular position.

10. A rotary platform as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the turning movement re quiredforthewrapping operation is initiated buy a pedal or the like so adapted that the turning is immediately interrupted when the pedal action ceases.

11. A rotary platform for load material, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.