GB993352A - Article handling machine, particularly for loading articles on a pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

993,352. Packaging-machines. FMC CORPORATION. July 5, 1961 [July 8, 1960], No. 24219/61. Heading B8C. The control mechanism of the machine described in Specification 993,353 is re-designed in order to stack articles on pallets. Articles are fed into the machine on a conveyer DC carrying pushers 164, the leading article operating a switch to stop the conveyer DC and start an accumulator conveyer AC. Further switches, corresponding to the number of rows in each layer of articles when stacked, are provided between rollers 140 of the conveyer AC in order to alternate the movement of conveyers DC and AC. The last row of articles on the conveyer AC operates a circuit to lower a stop 280, thereby releasing the assembled articles on to a reciprocable transfer carriage TC. When the first row of articles abuts a stop plate 205 the under-surface of the articles forms a stationary pressure surface above rollers 40 of the carriage TC which are frictionally rotated anti-clockwise through V-belts. The pressure of the articles causes the rollers 40 to move rearwards against the resistance of springs 95. The articles are dropped on to a pallet P which has been raised on a table T. When the conveyer TC is retracted, it operates a switch to lower the table T sufficiently to receive a further layer of articles. Lowering of the table T to its fullest extent energizes a conveyer C to remove a loaded pallet to the rear of the machine, i.e. to the right in Fig. 2. An empty pallet, fed in from the front of the machine, operates a switch when at a position above the table T to raise the table. When in raised position, an arm on the table T causes the motor raising the table to be de-energized and starts the motor operating the feed conveyer DC.