GB2218693A

GB2218693A - Improvements in or relating to the control of articles

Info

Publication number: GB2218693A
Application number: GB8811124A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Wignall
Original assignee: PLUSBRAND Ltd
Current assignee: PLUSBRAND Ltd
Priority date: 1988-05-11
Filing date: 1988-05-11
Publication date: 1989-11-22
Also published as: GB8811124D0

Abstract

Barrels are lowered into a cellar by rolling the barrels over the top edge of a wall 12. The barrels fall part of the way down the passage until they jam between the opposed surfaces of a gate 22 and a ladder 16 whereupon their rate of descent is checked, and the barrels then move slowly downwards as the ladder 16 pivots in the clockwise direction about hinges 18 against the action of a spring 26 and an associated damper 28. The barrels continue to move downwards gradually until they reach the lower opening 20 whereupon they either roll slowly out of the opening or are removed manually through the opening. The barrels may be hauled back up the ladder by a winch attached to a platform (30, Fig 2, not shown). In a further embodiment (Figs 3, 4, not shown), a pivotally-mounted retarder (42) near the bottom of a fixed ladder-like structure can be held in different intermediate positions. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE CONTROL OF ARTICLES The present Invention relates to an article control arrangement and to a method of control I Ing the movement of articles and Is particularly although not exclusively, related to the control of articles such as barrels or kegs to be lowered Into, or removed from cellars.

According to one aspect of the present Invent Ion, an article control arrangement includes a downwardly extending path witch opposed sides of at least part of the path being defined by side portions which are movable relative to each other, the side portions being capable of occupying a first position, In which at least part of the extent across the side port Ions Is arranged to be less than the dlmensions of an article In the same direction which Is arranged to pass between those side portions with means being provided to at least partially resist any tendency for movement of the side portions from the first posit Ion In the direction away from the first position to increase the extent across the side port ions.

The arrangement may Include an upper opening to the upper region of the path for the Insert ion or removal of articles. The opening may be from above the path or, alternatively or additionally, the opening may be from the side of the path. The side portions may be located beneath the opening, and at least one of the side portions may extend to the opening.

The arrangement may Include a lower opening to the lower region of the path. That opening may be to the side of -the path. At least one side portion may extend to the opening, and at least one of the side portions may be capable of extending to a lower region of the opening.

The means for at least partlally resisting movement of the side portions from the first positlon may Include resillent means or, alternatively or additionally, damper means. The damper means may be arranged to permit slower relative movement of one side portion away from the other side portion, away from the first direction, than the movement which Is permitted In the opposite directlon, towards the first position of the side portions. The damper means may be arranged to act on one side portion only.

The side portions may be capable of being held in a second position in which the extent across the side portion -Is arranged to be the same as, or greater than the dimension of the article in the same direction.

One side portion may be arranged to be pivotally mounted about an axis extending transversely to the extent of the path, and that axis may be located at an upper region of the side portion.

One side portion may be movable from a position in which it is capable of being engaged by an article passing through the path to a position In which access can be gained to the path from that side of the path.

The access may be arranged to be from the lower region of the passage. The side portion may be pivotally mounted and the axis of that amounting may extend in the same general direction as the extent of the path.

One of the side port Ions may include a support member arranged to extend at least partially across the path. The support member may be located In the lower region of the side portion. The support port Ion may be movable along the side portion through the path, for Instance, by a winch. The support portion may be capable of extending at or above the lowermost region of the opening to the upper region of the path.

One of the side portions may Include a guide extending at least part of the way along the path witch which an article passing through the path is capable of co-operating to align or maintain the orientation of that article as it passes through the path.

The control arrangement may include a plurality of downwardly extending paths with a second path being located at a lower level, and possibly beneath or to one side of, a first path.

One of the side portions may be arranged to move away from the other side portion such that the movable side portion is arranged to provide a greater support to an article travelling down the path as the article travels down the path. The movable side port Ion may be pivotally mounted about an axis located towards the lower region of the path, and an article may be arranged to be removed from the movable side portion, after having travelled down the path, whilst being completely supported by the movable side portion.

The path may comprise a passage.

According to another aspect of the present Invent Ion, a method of controlling the movement of articles passing through a downwardly extending path in which at least part of the extent of the path Is defined by side portions movable relative to each other comprises engaging an article between the side portions during Its movement through at least part of the extent of the side portions and at least partlally resisting any tendency for movement of the side portions away from each other when they are so engaged.

The method may comprise controlling the downwards movement of an article through the path, and the side portions may be arranged to move away from each other as the article passes through at least part of the extent between the side portlons.

The method may comprise Inserting an article Into, or removing an article from the path from above the path, or from the side of an upper region of the path.

The method may comprise delivering an article to an outlet at the lower region of the path, which may be at the side of the path, either by passing the article through the path or for subsequent movement of the article up the path.

The method may comprise guiding the article as It passes through at least part of the extent between the side portions to align or maintain the orientation of the article as It passes through that part of the path.

The method may comprise passing through a plurality of articles, one on top of the other, through the path, in which case only the lower most article may be engaged by the side portions during its movement through the path. In this Instance, where the articles are being moved downwardly through the path, when the lower most article Is removed from the path, the following article may be arranged to be engaged by the side portions.

The method may comprlse permitting the article to rotate about an axis extending transversely to the extent of the path as It passes through at least part of the extent of the path.

The method may comprlse controlling the movement of an article through a plurality of downwardly extending paths wlth an article which has passed downwardly through a first path being delivered to an upper region of a second path located at a lower level than the first path with the second path being located beneath, or to one side of the first path.

The method may comprise lowerlng an article down the path to cause one of the side portions to move away from the other side portion with the one side portion progressively supporting more of the welght of the article as the side portion so moves.

The method may comprise removing an article which has passed down the path from the movable side portion when the movable side port Ion completely supports an article.

The method may comprise controlling the movement of articles through a path comprising a passage.

The present invention also Includes a method of control I ing the movement of an article unless using an arrangement as herein referred to.

The present Invention may be carried into practice In various ways, but several embodiments may now be descrlbed, by way of example, and wlth reference to the accompanying drawings In which Figure 1 is a schematic perspective vlew of a control arrangement; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of Figure 1 including a modification made thereto, Figure 3 Is a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of a control arrangement, and Figure 4 Is a schematic side view showing the sequence of operation of the control arrangement shown in Flgure 3.

As shown in Figure 1, a control arrangement 10 is mounted In the cellar of a pub. The cellar has a floor 10, and a wall 12 leads up to an opening 14 onto a street, at ground floor level. It Is desired to move loads comprising barrels and crates into and out of the cellar through the opening 14.

The control arrangement 10 comprises a ladder 16 pivotally mounted about hinges 18 located on the wall 12 adjacent to the street opening 14. In the position shown, the ladder 16 extends downwardly and away from the wall 12 towards a lower opening 20 located beneath a gate 22. The gate 22 extends parallel to but spaced from the wall 12, and is connected to that wall by a frame 24 at both the upper region of the gate and in the region of the floor 10 of the cellar. The ladder 16 Is biased In an anti-clockwise direction about the hinges 18 by a spring 26.

In use, barrels are lowered Into the cellar by rolllng the barrel over the top edge of the wall 12. The barrels fall part of the way down the passage until they Jam between the opposed surfaces of the gate 22 and the ladder 16 whereupon their rate of descent Is checked, and the barrels then move slowly downwards as the ladder 16 pivots in a clockwise direction about the hinges 18 against the action of the spring 26 and an associated damper 28. The barrels continue to move downwards gradually until they reach the lower opening 20 whereupon they may elther roll slowly out of the opening or be removed manually through the opening.

The barrels roll down the passage defined between the gate and the ladder wlth their arcuate surface cooperating with those portions. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the ladder Includes a central rail extending downwardly with which a central groove present on most barrels co-operates durlng descent to ensure rotation of the barrels and to keep the barrel straight as It passes downwardly.

When a barrel has left the bottom opening the spring returns the ladder to the position shown In Figure 1 without the damper 28 delaying that return, as the damper Is arranged to damp to any significant degree in one direction of movement only.

It is feasible that two or more barrels can be rolled over the wall 12 into the passage with subsequent barrels resting on those beneath. Once -the lowermost barrel is removed then the following barrel will be moved downwardly to the lower opening 20.

Although an opening has been shown to the side of the passage, it will be appreciated that the arrangement 10 could equally well be located beneath an opening formed In the roof of a cellar.

In the schematic view shown In Figure 2, the ladder Is provided witch a foot 30 which Is slidably mounted on rollers on the ladder and Is movable from the posltion shown In solid lines to the position shown in chain lines under the action of a winch (not shown) which can be operated from the cellar from the side of the arrangement.

In order to ralse a barrel from the cellar the ladder 16 Is retalned against the wall 12 by a catch (not shown) and a barrel 32 is rolled onto the foot through the lower opening 20. The foot is then winched up and the catch holding the ladder agalnst the wall is released to allow the ladder to move In a clockwise direction to squeeze the barrel between the gate 22 and the ladder and thereby assist in the upwards force on the barrel. When the foot 30 reaches the uppermost position shown in chaln lines, because of the pivoting of the ladder and the configuration of the foot the barrel is actually at or above street level and can roll off the arrangement.

Should the winch happen to fail during operatlon then a barrel partially up the passage will simply return to the lower opening with the same gentle action as descrlbed above in relation to the lowering of barrels Into the cellar.

In an alternative use of the winch for removing barrels from the cellar, the ladder is left against the wall and the winch force alone, as opposed to the additional force exerted between the ladder and the gate, raises the barrel.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement Illustrated could equally well be used to raise or lower crates or other articles out of or Into cellars.

The gate 22 is pivotally mounted at one side to the frame, with the other of the gate being detachably secured to the frame. This allows the gate to be swung open to one side of the assembly to permit a person to be able to gain access to the area beneath the upper opening. Thus, with the gate open and the ladder against the wall, the arrangement need not Impede conventional methods of loading and unloading goods manually through the upper opening. Alternatively the winch can be used either wlth the ladder against the wall or with the catch released and the ladder extending downwardly and outwardly. Alternatively, with the gate open, goods can be slld down the ladder either with the ladder in the position shown in Figure 1 or with the foot of the ladder extending further away from the wall.

Flgures 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment of a control arrangement 34 which comprlses a frame 36 having a fixed downwardly extending ramp 38 comprlsed by two parallel spaced ralls 40. A catcher 42 comprises two arms 43 each of which Is pivotally connected to a different rall 40 towards the lower region thereof about an axis 44. In the posltlon shown, the arms 43 extend forwardly and upwardly from the axis 44. The arms 43 are biased In an anti-clockwise direction by a pair of springs 46 acting between an extension 48 on each of the arms 43 extending downwardly and rearwardly from the axis 44 and the base of the rails 40.The extensions 48 are connected by a cross-strut 50 to which a damper 52 Is connected, the damper 52 acting between the strut 50 and a cross-strut 54 located at an upper region 1300 mm from the cellar floor between the rails 40 to reduce the rate at which the catcher can pivot In a clockwlse direction about the axis 44 but to have a lesser effect on anticlockwise movement.

In use, a barrel is lowered or dropped between the ramp 38 and the catcher 42 and descends until It abuts both portions. The barrel then bears against the catcher to cause clockwise movement of the catcher about the axis 42 against the actlon of the springs 46 and the damper 52. This movement Is illustrated In Figure 4 in which the Initial position of the catcher is shown at 56 wlth intermediate positions being shown at 58 and 60.

In the position 60, the barrel has rolled away from the ramp 38 to rest across an angled end 62 of each of the rails and a portion of the rails located between the angled end and the axis 42. In the final position 64 the angled ends 62 rest on the cellar floor 66 and the barrel either rolls gently off the catcher onto the floor or can be so rolled. Once the barrel is removed, the catcher moves back Into the position shown in Flgure 3 to be ready for the next barrel.

The faces of the rails 40 and arms 43 with which the barrel co-operates Include hard rubber facings to cushion the Impact and movement between the barrel and the arrangement.

It is possible to lock the catcher in any desired position, and in the Intermediate position 60, the rails 40 and arms 43 act as a sllde for boxes or cartons, for Instance.

In any of the above described embodiments, greater drops may be achieved by having a cage located above the arrangements through which articles travel before passing through the paths defined by the ladder and gate of Figure 1 or the rallys and arms of Flgure 3.

A further advantage of each embodiment is that cross struts are provided between the sides of the ladder in Figure 1 or between the rails of Figure 3 thus enabling the arrangements to be used as fire escapes for people wishing to leave the building through the cellar.

The catcher may control a 36 gallon barrel for the final 900 mm of drop, and an 11 gallon barrel for the final 600 mm. The arrangement may be capable of handling 36 gallon barrels from a drop of 15 feet.

Although the above descrlbed embodiments have been described with reference to their use in cellars It will be appreciated that either embodiment, and In particular that shown In Figure 3, Is particularly suited to use with a dray wagon where the arrangement can be carried on the wagon but conveniently manoeuvred to catch barrels coming over the side of the wagon.

In any of the above described embodiments, a succession of arrangements may be located at different helghts such that a barrel leaving the outlet of one arrangement falls to a lower arrangement. Thus significant drops can be achieved.

Claims

1. An article control arrangement Including a downwardly extending path wlth opposed sides of at least part of the path being defined by side portions which are movable relative to each other, the side portions being arranged to occupy a first position in which at least part of the extent across the side portions is arranged to be less than the dimensions of an article in the same direction which is arranged to pass between those side portions with means being provided to partially resist any tendency for movement of the side portions from the first position in the directlon away from the first position to Increase the extent across the side portions.

2. An arrangement as claimed In Claim 1 Including an upper opening to the upper region of the path for insert ion or removal of articles.

3. An arrangement as claimed In Claim 2 In which the opening is above the path.

4. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 In which the opening is from the side of the path.

5. An arrangement as claimed In any of Claims 2 to 4 in which the side portions are located beneath the opening.

6. An arrangement as claimed In any of Claims 2 to 5 in which at least one of the side portions extends to the opening.

7. An arrangement as claimed In any preceding claims Including a lower opening to the lower region of the path.

8. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 7 In which the lower opening is to the side of the path.

9. An arrangement as claimed In Claim 7 or Claim 8 in which at least one side portion extends to the lower opening.

10. An arrangement as claimed In Claim 9 In which at least one of the side portions is capable of extending to a lower region of the lower opening.

11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the means for partially resisting movement of the side portions from the first position Includes resilient means.

12. An arrangement as claimed In any preceding claim in which the means for partially resisting movement of the side portions from the first position include damper means.

13. An arrangement as claimed In Claim 12 in which the damper means are arranged to permit slower relative movement of one side portion away from the other side portion, away from the first position than the speed of relative moment of the one side portlon towards the other side portion towards the first position.

14. An arrangement as claimed In Claim 12 or Claim 13 in which the damper means is arranged to act on one side portion only.

15. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in'which the side portions are arranged to be held in a second -positlon In which the extent across the side portions Is arranged to be the same as, or greater than the dimenslon of an article which Is arranged to pass between the side portions.

16. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim In which one side portion is arranged to be pivotally mounted about an axis extending transversely to the extent of the path.

17. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 16 in which the pivotal axis is located at an upper region of the side portion.

18. An arrangement as claimed In any preceding claim in which one side portion Is movable from a position in which It Is capable of being engaged by an article passing through the path to a posltlon in which access can be gained to the path from that side of the path.

19. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 18 in which access can be galned to the path from the lower region of the passage.

20. An arrangement as claimed In Claim 18 or 19 in which the side portion which Is movable Is pivotally mounted, and the axis of that mounting extends in the same general direction as the extent of the path.

21. An arrangement as claimed In any preceding claim in which one of the side portions Includes a support member arranged to extend at least partially across the path.

22. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 21 in which the support member Is located in the lower region of the side portion.

23. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 21 or Claim 22 in which the support portion Is movable along the side portion through the path.

24. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 23 In which the support portion Is movable along the side portion through the path by a winch.

25. An arrangement as claimed In any of Claims 21 to 24 in which the support portion is capable of extending at or above the lowermost region of the opening to the upper region of the path.

26. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which one of the side portions includes a guide extending at least part of the way along the path with which an article passing through the path is arranged to co-operate to align or maintain the orientation of that article as It passes through the path.

27. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim including a plurality of downwardly extending paths with a second path being located at a lower level than a first path.

28. An arrangement as claimed In Claim 27 In which the second path is located beneath the first path.

29. An arrangement as claimed In Claim 27 or Claim 28 In which the second path is located to one side of the first path.

30. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim In which one of the side portions Is arranged to move away from the other side portion from the first position such that the movable side portion is arranged to provide a greater support to an article travelling down the path as the article moves down that path.

31. An arrangement as claimed In Claim 30 in which the movable side portion Is pivotally mounted about an axis located towards the lower region of the path.

32. An arrangement as claimed In Claim 31 in which an article Is arranged to be removed from the movable side portion, after having travelled down the path, whilst being completely supported by the movable side portion.

33. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim In which the path comprises a passage.

34. An article control arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in Flgures 1 and 2 or Flgures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

35. A method of controlling the movement of articles passing through a downwardly extending path in which at least part of the extent of the path is defined by side portions movable relative to each other comprising engaging an article between the side portions during Its movement through at least part of the extent of the side portions, and partially resisting any tendency for movement of the side portions away from each other when they are so engaged.

36. A method as claimed in Claim 35 comprising controlllng the downwards movement of an article through the path with the side portions being arranged to move away from each other as the article passes through at least part of the extent between the side portions.

37. A method as claimed in Claim 35 or Claim 36 comprising inserting an article into, or removing an article from the path from above the path.

38. A method as claimed In any of Claims 35 to 37 comprising Inserting an article Into, or removing an article from the path from the side of an upper region of the path.

39. A method as claimed in any of Claims 35 to 38 comprising deliverlng an article to an outlet at the lower region of the path.

40. A method as claimed In Claim 39 comprising delivering an article to an outlet at the side of the lower region of the path.

41. A method as claimed in Claim 39 or 40 comprising delivering an article to an outlet by passing the article through the path.

42. A method of delivering an article to an outlet as claimed In either of Clalms 39 or 40 comprising passing the article for subsequent movement of the article up the path.

43. A method as claimed in any of Claims 35 to 42 comprising guiding the article as It passes through at least part of the extent between the side portions to align or maintain the orientation of the article as It passes through that part of the path.

44. A method as claimed In any of Claims 35 to 43 comprlsing passing a plurality of articles, one on top of the other, through the path.

45. A method as claimed In Claim 44 In which the lowermost article Is engaged by the side portions during its movement through the path.

46. A method as claimed in Claim 44 or 45 in which, when the lowermost article is removed from the path, the following article is engaged by the side portions.

47. A method as claimed In any of Claims 35 to 46 comprising permitting the article to rotate about an axis extending transversely to the extent of the path as it passes through at least part of the extent of the path.

48. A method as claimed in any of Claims 35 to 47 comprising controlling the movement of an article through a plurality of downwardly extending paths wlth an article which Is passed downwardly through a first path being delivered to an upper region of a second path located at a lower region than the first path with the second path being located beneath the first path.

49. A method as claimed in any of Claims 35 to 48 comprising controlling the movement of an article through a plurality of downwardly extending paths wlth an article which is passed downwardly through a first path being delivered to an upper region of a second path located at a lower level than the first path wlth the second path being located to one side of the first path.

50. A method as claimed in any of Claims 35 to 49 comprising lowering an article down the path to cause one of the side portions to move away from the other side portion with the one side portion progressively supporting more of the weight of the article as the side portion so moves.

51. A method as claimed In any of Claims 35 to 50 comprising removing an article which has passed down the path from the movable side portion when the movable side portion completely supports an article.

52. A method as claimed In any of Claims 35 to 51 comprising controlling the movement of articles through a path comprising a passage.

53. A method of controlling the movement of articles substantially as hereln described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Flgures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

54. A method of controlling the movement of an article as claimed in any of Claims 35 to 53 when using an article control arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 34.