GB711217A - Improvements in or relating to loading or unloading mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

711,217. Conveyers. KING, Ltd., G. W. Jan 25. 1952 [Feb. 7, 1951], No. 3024/51. Class 78 (1) Loading and unloading mechanism for transferring articles to and from overhead conveyers comprises at least two bars adapted to be moved in an endless path, one bar having associated therewith a carrier member adapted to engage and transfer an article from an upper to a lower position while the other bar has associated therewith a carrier member adapted to transfer an article from the lower position to an upper position, the bars being rotatable about their longitudinal axes by actuating means disposed at predetermined intervals to cause the carrier members to perform their appropriate . function. As shown, a pair of endless chains is provided, travelling in parallel paths indicated by the chain line and travelling in the direction of arrows A. Bars 16 and 17 are journalled in bearings carried by the chains so as to extend between them and be capable of rotation about their longitudinal axes. One of each of the bars 16, 17, which alternate along the length of the chains, are shown. Each bar 16 carries centrally a pair of hooks 18 and near each end a fixed arm 19 provided with a roller 20, and a free arm 21, provided with a roller 22 and restricted in the clockwise direction by a stop on bar 16 (not shown). Each bar 17 carries centrally a pair of hooks 24, which may have rollers 24a to assist in their transferring action, and near each end a pair of fixed arms 25 carrying rollers 26a, 26b. The arms 19, 21 and 25 operate in different planes, respectively, so as to be actuated by separate cam tracks 32, 27 and 28, and 29-31, respectively through the rollers 20, 22, 26a and 26b. In operation, as each bar 16 passes along the rising stretch of the chains rollers 22 engage tracks 27 which causes arms 21 to be pressed against their stops and so rotate bar 16, causing hooks 18 to detach a crankshaft from an overhead conveyer 10. Arms 21 are held in a raised position on the falling stretch of the chains by tracks 28 to keep them to the aide of conveyer 10 and an underlying conveyer 11 also of the overhead type, and near the bottom of this stretch rollers 20 are engaged by tracks 32 to cause hooks 18 to deposit the crankshaft on a grinding machine 12 .after which the cycle is repeated. As bar 17 approaches the bottom of the falling stretch rollers 26b engage tracks 30 to cause hooks 24 to pick up a ground crankshaft from the machine 12, rollers 26b passing to tracks 31 during the picking up operation which operate to steady the return of the hooks 24 to depending position. After proceeding around the cycle rollers 26a on their next passage along the falling stretch engage tracks 29 which cause hooks 24 to deposit the ground crankshaft on the underlying conveyer 11 for removal.