GB2124171A - Conveying means with clamping devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of conveying an article (P) from one location to another comprises the steps of fading the article (P) to a charging station (11) of an apparatus at a first location, engaging the article (P) at the charging station (11) with a clamping means carried by a conveying means (15), moving the conveying means (15) to convey the article to a discharge station at a second location, whilst maintaining the clamping means in engagement with the article (P), releasing the clamping means at the discharge station to disengage the article (P), and moving the conveying means (15) to return the clamping means to the charging station (11) for engagement with a further article (P). The clamping means are preferably maintained in a predetermined orientation. Cam means are provided to effect opening of the clamping means at the charging and discharging stations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Conveying apparatus Description of Invention This invention relates to a method and apparatus of conveying articles from one location to another. More particularly, but not exclusively the conveying apparatus may comprise a transplanting apparatus for conveying a plant from one location to the ground.

Previously, transplanting apparatus have discharged plants into a pre-arranged furrows by dropping the plants into the furrows under gravity, which dropping action can tumble the plants rather than retaining them in an erect orientation to facilitate covering up of the lower part of the plant in the ground subsequently.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved method and apparatus for conveying articles from one location to another.

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide a method of conveying an article from one location to another comprising the steps of feeding the article to a charging station of an apparatus at a first location, engaging the article at the charging station with a clamping means carried by a conveying means, moving the conveying means to convey the article to a discharge station at a second location, whilst maintaining the clamping means in engagement with the article, releasing the clamping means at the discharge station to disengage the article, moving the conveying means to return the clamping means to the charging station for engagement with a further article.

Thus an article can be placed at the second location by releasing the clamping means rather than merely dropping the article to the second location as has been the case with known transplanting apparatus.

Preferably, the conveying means comprises at least one continuous loop such as a chain which may be continuously driven, the loop extending between the first and second local tions, although any other suitable conveying means may alternatively be provided.

The. clamping means may comprise a pair of clamping members which are closed around the article at the charging station and maintained closed around the article as the article is conveyed to the discharge station, and opened at the discharge station to disengage the article.

The clamping members may be normally urged apart by a spring means, the charging station having means to close the clamping members about the article. Clamping cams carried by the conveying means may be provided to retain the clamping members in engagement with the article until the article is conveyed to the discharge station.

The clamping cams may be movable from a first position at the charging station wherein they prevent the clamping members from opening under the influence of the spring means, to a further position as the article reaches the discharge station wherein the clamping members may be opened under the influence of the spring means, movement of the clamping cams being governed by a control means. The control means may include a further loop which follows a similar path to the conveying loop but is spaced therefrom, a connecting element extending between the conveying loop and the control loop, operable to cause said movement of the clamping cams. Alternatively, abutments may be provided on the apparatus engageable with the clamping cams to move the clamping cams from the first to the further position.

As the conveying means conveys the article, preferably means are provided to maintain the of the clamping means in the same orientation relative to the ground. Thus for example, where the article comprises a container, such as a pot containing a plant, the contents of the container will not be discharged from the container as the container is conveyed.

The method may be used to convey a plurality of articles in succession from said one location and may include the step of permitting the articles to be discharged to the ground from the discharge station. Thus, the apparatus may be moved over the ground so that one article is discharged to the ground at a position spaced from a position at which a second article was previously discharged from the apparatus.

Preferably, immediately prior to being discharged, each article is conveyed by the conveying means in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the apparatus over the ground. Thus the speed of the article relative to the ground is reduced to a very small amount, or even zero, depending on the relative speeds of the conveying means and the speed of movement of the apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide an apparatus for use in a method according to the first aspect of the invention comprising a charging station at a first location, a discharge station at a second location, conveying means for conveying an article from the charging station to the discharge station, clamping means carried by the conveying means, means to engage the clamping means with the article at the charging station, means to maintain the clamping means in engagement with the article as the article is conveyed to the discharge station, means to release the clamping means at the discharge station to disengage the article, means to return the clamping means to the charging station for engagement with a further article.

The apparatus may have one or more of the features of the apparatus used in the method according to the second aspect of the invention.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side diagrammatic view of a conveying and transplanting apparatus for use in the method according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of part of the apparatus of Fig. 1: Figure 3 is a section on the lines A-A of Fig. 2.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a conveying and transplanting apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, for use in a method according to the first aspect.

The apparatus 10 comprises a charging station II whereat articles, in the present case pots containing plants for transplanting, are fed to the apparatus, and a discharging station 1 2 whereat the pots are discharged from the apparatus, for example to furrows in the ground, indicated at 14.

The apparatus further comprises a conveying means for conveying the pots from the charging station 11 to the discharge station 12 along a predetermined fixed path, the conveying means comprising a pair of continuous chains 1 5 (only one of which can be seen in Fig. 1) of the type comprising rollers connected together by side links, the chains 1 5 extending parallel and side-by-side and each entrained about respective toothed sprockets, 16, 17, 18. Two of the sprockets, 16, 1 7, of each chain 1 5 are positioned at the top T of the apparatus adjacent to the charging station 11, and those parts of the chains 1 5 extending between the two sprockets 16, 17, are thus horizontal.The other sprocket 18 for each chain 1 5 is positioned at the bottom B of the apparatus below sprocket 18, adjacent the discharge station 17. Hence those parts of the chains 1 5 extending between sprockets 16 and 1 8 are substantially vertical, whilst the remaining parts of the chains 15 which extend between sprockets 1 7 and 18 extend downwardly at an angle.

The pairs of sprockets 16, 17, 18 are mounted for rotation about common axes, and at least one of the sprockets 17 is adapted to be driven by a power means in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1, and indicated by the arrows 20. For example, the sprocket 17 which is driven and indicated at 1 7a in Fig. 2, may be mounted on a spindle S which is fast with a further pair of sprockets S1 and S2, the sprocket S2 being connected via a further chain (not shown) to a sprocket mounted on a motor spindle. Of course may variations are possible, for example both sprockets 1 7 may be driven, or indeed one or pairs of the other sprockets 16, 18 may alternatively be driven.

At the charging station 1T. a pair of pot locating cams 21 are provided, again only one Df which can be seen, which cams 21 extend parallel and side-by-side.

The chains 1 5 each carry on regularly spaced links a plurality of mounting brackets 22, in the present case shown, five altogether, which brackets 22 each carry hollow cylindrical rods 26 of a pot engagement means 25.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the rods 26 are rotatable relative connects element comprising an axle 27, the axle 27 having a cranked end 28.

The pot engagement means 25 each further comprise a clamping mount bracket 30 comprising an upstanding post welded or otherwise fixed to the rod 27, the clamp mounting bracket 30 carrying, for rotation about the post, a pair of clamping members 31, each of the clamping members having a part circular end 32 bridged by chordal elements 33, which ends 32 and chrodal elements 33 are adapted to be clamped around a pot of diameter substantially equal to that of the curved parts. Where another article, or for example a larger or smaller diameter pot is to be clamped, the ends 32 of the clamping members 31 would of course be modified to be of a configuration suitable for clamping the particular article.

The other ends 34 of the clamping members 31 are cranked and secured so that the clamping members 31 can be rotated about post 30.

The clamping members 31 are urged away from one another by a coil compression spring 35, also wound about the post 30, the ends 36 of the spring 35 engaging each of the cam members 31.

However, as shown in Fig. 2, the clamping members 31 are held together against the force of the spring 35 by crescent-shaped clamping cams 37 which are engaging cams 38 carried by the cam members 31. The clamping cams 37 are suspended via links 39 from bearings 29 of the mounting brackets 22 and are rotatable about the mounting brackets 22 and are fast with axle 24.

The cranked ends 28 of axle 27 are fixed to a locating bracket 40 which is connected to a link of a further chain 41 which is an identical configuration to chains 1 5.

However chain 41 is carried by further sprockets 42, 43, 44, one of the sprockets, 42, being provided at the top T of the apparatus near sprocket 16, sprocket 43 being provided at the top of the apparatus adjacent sprocket 17, and the remaining sprocket 44 at the bottom of the apparatus B adjacent sprocket 18. Thus as the chains 1 5 are driven, and hence axle 27 is constrained to move with the chains 15, the chain 41 is constrained to move about the sprockets 42, 43, 44 in a path similar to but spaced from the paths of rotation of chains 15.

Operation of the apparatus 10 will now be described.

Pots P each containing a plant P1 to be transplanted are fed vertically by any known means, automatically or manually, to the charging station 11, as indicated by the arrow F, where the pots P rest on a platform 50. As the chains 1 5 are driven, eventually one of the pot engaging means 25 will be moved to the charging station 11 with the clamp means 31 open, as hereinafter described. As the chains 15, and chain 41 continue to be moved, the pot P at the charging station 11 will be received between the clamping members 31. On continued movement, the clamping members 31 are engaged by the pot locating cams 21, engaging the cams 38 carried by the clamping members 31, to close the clamping members 31 about the pot P, against the force of the spring 35.Thus further movement of the chains 1 5 and the chain 41 causes the pot P to be moved with the horizontal parts of the chains 1 5 extending between the sprockets 16, 17.

As the links of the chains 1 5 carrying the mounting brackets 22 engage the sprockets 17, the link of chain 41 carrying corresponding locating bracket 40, will still be engaged with or moving towards the sprocket 43.

Hence the axle 27 of the pot engaging means 25 will be moved by the cranked ends 28 engaged with the chain 41, to rotate the crescent shaped pot clamping cams 37 to a position wherein the clamping cams 37 will prevent the clamping members 31 moving apart under the influence of the spring 35, as the clamping cams 37 engage the cams 38 carried by the clamping members 31.

The crescent shaped pot clamping cams 37 will adopt the orientation shown at 51 in Fig.

1, whilst the chains 1 5 and chain 41 continue to move downwards at an angle towards the discharge station 1 2.

It can be seen that regardless of the orientation of the pot clamping cams 37, the clamping members 31 remain substantially horizontal for this entire movement by gravity so that the contents of the pot P are not discharged from the pot.

As the pot engaging means 25 reaches the discharge station 12, adjacent to the ground 14, because of the spacing between the chains 15, and chain 41 the pot clamping cams 37 will be further rotated to the position shown at 52, so that the cams 38 carried by the clamping members 31 are disengaged with the clamping cams 37. Hence, under the influence of spring 35, the clamping members 31 will move apart to disengage the pot and hence the pot will be discharged to the ground 14.

Of course during the entire operation hereinbefore described, the apparatus 10 is moving, for example by being towed behind a vehicle relative to the ground 14 in the direction shown by arrow M. Thus the discharged pot P is not discharged at the same ground position as the previously discharged pot, but spaced therefrom. The distance between discharged pots will depend upon both the speed of rotation of the sprockets 1 7 and the speed at which the vehicle towing the apparatus is moving, as well as the number of pot engaging means 25 provided on the chains 1 5.

It can be seen that the pot is conveyed by the conveying means, immediately prior to being discharged, in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow M. This has the advantage that the relative speed of the plant to the ground is minimal and thus the tendency for the pot to tip over as it is discharged to the ground is considerably reduced.

Upon continued movement of the chains 15, and chain 41 the pot engaging member 25 will be returned to the charging station 11 along a substantially vertical path, the pot clamping cams 37 adopting the orientation shown at 53 by virtue of the spacing between chains 15 and chain 41, and the cranked axle 27 connection.

As in the present example, five pot engaging means 25 are connected to the chains 15, during each complete cycle of the chains 1 5 five pots will be discharged, assuming of course that five pots are fed to the charging station 11 at the appropriate instance.

The distance d of the apparatus 10 above the ground may be varied to accommodate pots P of different depth, or furrows in the ground 1 4 of different depth. Of course, a plurality of such apparatus 10 may be mounted side-by-side so that pots are discharged into a plurality of furrows simultaneously, the spacing of the apparatus 10 being equal to the distance between the furrows or a multiple thereof.

Various modifications may be made to the apparatus described, without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, instead of providing a third chain 41 to cause the pot clamping cams 37 to adopt the orientations described, any other means of causing the clamping members 31 to engage the pot P at the charging station and disengage the pot at the discharging station may be provided. Furthermore, instead of pot clamping cams 37 any other means of causing clamping members to close or open to engage and disengage a pot, may be used.

Instead of the chains 15, which carry the pot engaging means 25, any other suitable type of conveying means may be provided to convey the pot engaging means and hence the pot P from the charging station to the discharging station.

In a further embodiment (not shown) instead of the pot P being conveyed downwardly at an angle as described with reference to the embodiment illustrated, if desired the pot may be conveyed vertically downwardly or in any other path, although it is preferred for the pot to be conveyed in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the apparatus over the ground, at least immediately prior to discharge, for the reasons hereinbefore described.

Although in the embodiment illustrated, the pots are fad to the discharge station 11 along a vertical path to horizontally moving pot engagement means 25, in a preferred version (not shown) the pots P are fed horizontally to a charging station which is located where the conveying means is moving vertically upwardly. Thus the need to "drop" the pots into engagement with the pot engagement means 25 is eliminated. However, means will have to be provided to close the vertically moving clamping members 31 of the pot engagement means 25, which means could comprise cams suitable positioned.

Although the apparatus described has been for use in transplanting plants P1 in pots P, a similar apparatus for conveying other articles in accordance with the invention may be manufactured. In this instance, the articles need not be conveyed downwards towards the ground but horizontally or in any other direction, from one location to another.

However, it will be appreciated that the apparatus described is particularly applicable for transplantation. The pots P may be made of peat or other material which will not restrict growth of the plants when the plants are in the ground. Once the plants have been placed in the furrows they may then be covered by earth by a suitable apparatus trailing the apparatus 10 described.

Claims (14)

1. A method of conveying an article from one location to another comprising the steps of feeding the article to a charging station of an apparatus at a first location, engaging the article at the charging station with a clamping means carried by a conveying means, moving the conveying means to convey the article to a discharge station at a second location, whilst maintaining the clamping means in engagement with the article, releasing the clamping means at the discharge station to disengage the article, moving the conveying means to return the clamping means to the charging station for engagement with a further article.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the conveying means comprises at least one continuous loop, the loop extending between the first and second locations.

3. A method according to Claim 2 wherein the loop is a chain which is continuously driven.

4. A method according to any one Claims 1 to 3 wherein the clamping means comprises a pair of clamping members which are closed around the article at the charging station and maintained closed around the article as the article is conveyed to the discharge station, and opened at the discharge station to disengage the article.

5. A method according to Claim 4 wherein clamping members are normally urged apart by a spring means, the charging station having means to close the clamping members about the article.

6. A method according to Claim 5 wherein clamping cams are carried by the conveying means to retain the clamping members in engagement with the article until the article is conveyed to the discharge station.

7. A method according to Claim 6 wherein the clamping cams are movable from a first position at the charging station wherein they prevent the clamping members from opening under the influence of the spring means, to a further position as the article reaches the discharge station wherein the clamping members are opened under the influence of the spring means, movement of the clamping cams being governed by a control means.

8. A method according to Claim 7 wherein the control means includes a further loop which follows a similar path to the conveying loop but is spaced therefrom, and a connecting element extending between the conveying loop and the control loop, operable to cause said movement of the clamping cams.

9. A method according to Claim 7 wherein abutments are provided on the apparatus engageable with the clamping cams to move the clamping cams from the first to the further position.

1 9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein means are provided to maintain the clamping means in the same orientation relative to the ground as the conveying means conveys the article.

11. A method of conveying substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 2. Apparatus for use in a method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a charging station at a first location, a discharge station at a second location, conveying means for conveying an article from the charging station to the discharge station, clamping means carried by conveying means, means to engage the clamping means with the article at the charging station, means to maintain the clamping means in engagement with the article as the article is conveyed to the discharge station, means to release the clamping means at the discharge station to disengage the article, means to return the clamping means to the charging station for engagement with a further article.

1 3. Apparatus for conveying substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.