GB2124994A

GB2124994A - Palleting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2124994A
Application number: GB08316378A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heinz Elges
Original assignee: Leifeld & Lemke Maschf
Current assignee: Leifeld & Lemke Maschf
Priority date: 1982-07-16
Filing date: 1983-06-16
Publication date: 1984-02-29
Also published as: FR2530228A1; DE3226711C2; DE3226711A1; IT8322083A0; GB8316378D0; IT1163789B; GB2124994B; IT8322083A1; FR2530228B1

Abstract

For loading pallets with layers of crates which, for stacking in secure positions, have upward-pointing, lug- shaped projections on mutually opposite side walls in each case and punched holes in the lower side rims, a palleting device is used which has a platform 5 which can be moved from a layer-preparation station (A) to a pallet- loading station B and which can be withdrawn from underneath this layer for depositing a fed-in layer of crates onto a prior layer of crates, said platform being provided with recesses 10 to accommodate the lug-shaped projections on the prior layer of crates so that the platform can be brought close to the upper edges of the crates of said prior layer. The layer of crates on the platform is stripped therefrom by stripper 12 in retraction of the platform. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Palleting device for loading pallets with layers of crates The invention relates to a palleting device for loading pallets with layers of crates which, for stacking in secure positionS, have upward-pointing, lug-shaped projections on mutually opposite side walls in each case and punched holes in the lower side rims.

Mainly in the dairy industry, crates, which are stacked one above the other in layers on pallets, are to be found as bulk packaging for cartons or similar containers.

In order to obtain stacking of the crates in secure positions for transport, these have upward-pointing lug-shaped projections on mutually opposite side walls in each case and punched holes in lower side rims, the form, size and position of the punched holes corresponding to the iug-shaped projections.

Predominantly, two of these lugs are used, but there can also be four lugs per crate.

When the crates are out on top of one another, which hitherto was carried out manually, the lugs of the lower crates engage in the punched holes of the upper crates and thus fix the mutual positions of the crates.

As is known, the crates must be stacked with extraordinary care, so that the lugs are not bent over, which would prevent fixing of the crates. Taking into account the reach of human arms, it is clear how difficult it is to stack the crates exactly on top of one another in the centre of the relatively large area above the pallet.

It was thus the aim to automate the working step, which is labour-intensive and tiring and can therefore not always be carried out exactly, of loading pallets with lugged crates. Trials in this direction with conventional palleting instaliations, which work according to the pusher system, showed that stacking of lugged crates by machine is not feasible.

Because of the projecting lugs, the pusher plate can be lowered only down to the upper edge of the lugs.

The remaining relatively large depositing travel of the layer of piece goods, resulting from the lug height plus the thickness of the pusher plate, does not permit fault-free stacking of the lugged crates.

It is the object of the invention to provide a device for loading pallets by machine with layers of crates of the generic type described at the outset.

The achievement of the object is characterised by a platform which can be moved from a layerpreparation station to a pallet-loading station and, for depositing a fed-in layer of piece goods, can be withdrawn from underneath this layer, and which, for lowering down to the edge height of the crates and subsequent withdrawal, is provided with recesses extending in the longitudinal direction, and by a stripper, which positions the layers of piece goods above the stacking location when the platform is withdrawn, and by lateral guides. Due to the recesses in the platform in the planes of the lugs and punched holes of the crates, the height of deposition of a layer of piece goods can be reduced down to a small extent, because the platform can be lowered down to the edge height of the crates.As a result of this, and in conjunction with positioning means acting on the sides of the layer of piece goods, a palleting of so-called lugged crates can be carried out as a reliable operation.

According to a further feature of the invention, the platform is arranged in a plane which rises towards the rear from the front edge height of a layer of piece goods. The effect of this measure is that the crates are placed into each other extremely gently, and in each case one row after another, this so-called threading step being promoted by the own weight of the crates.

According to another feature, the plane in which the platform is arranged extends from the front edge height of a layer of piece goods beyond and above the height of the lugs of the rear rows of crates, and the recesses extend across a front part length of the platform. Without impairing the stability of the platform, this structural design allows the use of a very small thickness of material, whereby the height of deposition of the layer of piece goods is further reduced.

Finally, the design of the platform in the shape of a wedge also contributes to a reduction in the height of deposition.

An illustrative embodiment of the palleting device according to the invention is described in more detail below, by reference to diagrammatic drawings in which Figure 1 shows a palleting device in side view, Figure 2 shows the pallet-loading station of the palleting device in side view, on an enlarged scale, and Figure 3 shows a corresponding plan view, in which one half of the station is broken off.

The palleting device comprises a base frame 2 with a gantry 3 for receiving a carrier frame 4 with a platform 5. The latter can be moved transversely in the carrier frame 4 between a layer-preparation station A and a pallet-loading station B and can be moved up and down together with the carrier frame.

Next to the layer-preparation station, there is a roller conveyor 6, over which the so-called lugged crates 1 which are to be palleted are supplied in endless rows. By means of a pusher device 7, the crates are then transferred in rows into the layerpreparation station and assembled on the platform 5 to form a layer of piece goods.

The pallet-loading station B is likewise equipped with a roller conveyor 8, over which the pallets 9 are fed in and, after the palleting step, transported away.

Lugged crates are understood as crates which, for stacking in secure positions, have upward-pointing lug-shaped projections on mutually opposite side walls in each case and punched holes in the lower side rims. To enable these lugged crates to be stacked by machine, the platform 5 has longitudinal slots 10, which each extend in the planes of the lugs and punched holes, so that the platform can be lowered down to the edge height of the crates, as a result of the lugs entering the longitudinal slots in the platform. The latter is located in a plane which rises towards the rear from the front edge height of a layer of piece goods and is designed in the shape of a wedge.

For positioning a layer of piece goods, which is to be deposited above the stack, guide strips 11 are installed along the feed direction, whilst, for positioning in the transverse direction, a stripper 12, which can be pivoted into the plane of movement of the crates, and a front stop strip 13 are provided.

When the platform, located between a layer to be stacked and a layer already deposited, is withdrawn, the crates can, due to the design according to the invention, be deposited one after the other in rows on the lower rows, as a result of the lugs engaging in each case in the punched holes of the upper crates.

Due to the extremely small remaining height of fall, in conjunction with the own weight of the crates, absolutely reliable palleting can be realised, coupled with very gentle handling of the crates.

Due to the inclined position of the platform, the longitudinal slots need to extend only across a part length of the platform so that, with respect to a minimum height of fall, the thickness of the platform can be kept relatively small, without impairing the stability.

Claims

1. A device for stacking containers which, for secure stacking, each have a main body portion and opposed projecting members on the body portion and recesses positioned for inter-engagement with the projecting members on an adjacent container, wherein the device comprises a platform which can be moved between first and second positions for transferring containers from said first position for deposit at said second position onto a stack of containers, and the platform is provided with recesses for receiving the projecting members within the thick ness of the platform to enable the platform to be positioned adjacent the main body of a container during a stacking operation.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 for stacking containers having a base and side walls, with the projecting members disposed on oppose of side walls, wherein the recesses in the plaffrom allow the platform to be lowered to the level of the top edge of the side walls of the containers.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 wherein the platform is inclined relative to the containers in the stack so as to facilitate deposit of further containers onto the stack.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the platform is configured to carry a plural ity of containers for progressive deposit from a front portion of the platform onto the stack as the platform is withdrawn from the stack.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and claim 4 wherein the platform is inclined so as, prior to depositing a container, to clear the projecting mem bers of a rearmost container at the top of the stack.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the recesses in the platform extend from the front portion of the platform towards the rear of the platform and terminate before the rearmost edge of the platform.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the platform is wedge-shaped.

8. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.