GB999215A - Improvements in or relating to article transfer mechanisms - Google Patents

Abstract

999,215. Endless conveyers; stacking and wrapping machines. BROOKHIRST IGRANIC Ltd. Feb. 19, 1964 [March 4, 1963], No. 6900/64. Headings B8A and B8C. An apparatus for transferring articles, e.g. a stack of newspapers SP, from a stacking machine 14 to a wrapping machine 20 comprises a carriage 17 movable between the two machines and comprising parallel article support members 26, 28 spaced apart transversely of its axis of movement, an endless conveyer belt 30 having its upper run positioned between the members 26, 28 and having its upstream end upstream of the carriage 17 to convey the stack SP out of the stacking machine on to the support members 26, 28 and switch means operated by the advancing stack SP to cause the carriage 17 and stack thereon to be moved to the wrapping machine 20. The carriage 17 comprises a yoke 24 formed by top and side plates 24a, 24b, 24c and lower angle plates 24e, 24d mounting the support members 26, 28. A stack pusher member 48, 50 is mounted between the top and lower yoke plates, on each side of the support members 26, 28 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. Arms 52, 54 above the yoke top plate 24a are rigidly connected to the pusher members 48, 50 and incorporate cam rollers 52a, 54a. The pusher members 48, 50 are biased by springs 48b, 50b into a stack-engaging position. The carriage 17 is guided in its movement by blocks 36, 38 mounted on the yoke top plate and through which pass guide rods 32, 34 secured at their remote ends to a stationary frame 40. The carriage is moved by a pneumatic ram 42, having its cylinder 42a secured to the frame 40 and its piston-rod 42b passing through the frame 40 and coupled by a pin and clevis 44 to a block 46 secured to the plate 24a. Spill plates 58, 60 which may be transparent plastic provide side walls for the transfer unit Swinging L-shaped gates 82 secured to pivo tallymounted rods 90 swing in and under a stack SP supported over the top entry opening to the wrapping machine 20, by the supports 26, 28 at the end of their transfer travel, and as the supports are retracted the turned-in bottoms of the gates support the stack and end plates 82a retain the stack over the opening. A vertically mounted pneumatic ram 88 having a ram plate 86 attached to the piston-rod of the ram is positioned over the opening in the wrapping machine 20 to compress the stack SP and a pre-cut wrap paper against a base plate 166, Fig. 8 (not shown), in the machine 20 once the gates 82 have been pivoted outwardly. A cam plate 56, Fig. 10 (not shown), mounted on the stacking machine 14 engages the cam rollers 52a, 54a as the carriage approaches the stacking machine 14 and causes the stack pushers 48, 50 to pivot out of the passage of travel of the stacks. In operation, a stack of papers SP being conveyed from the machine 14 on the belt 30, driven in synchronism with the machine, engages a limit switch which through a solenoidoperated valve causes the ram 42 to draw the carriage along to the wrapping machine 20. As the yoke 24 moves, the rollers 52a, 54a are released from the cam 56 and the pushers 48, 50 pivot inwardly to engage and push the stack SP into a position over the wrapping machine opening and supported on the members 26, 28. In this position the yoke 24 engages another limit switch which through another solenoid operated valve causes a pneumatic ram 84, Fig. 12 (not shown), to close, via a system of linkages, the two gates 82 into the " stack supporting " position beneath the supports 26, 28. An arm fitted to one of the gates operates a switch, causing the ram 42 to move the carriage 17 back to the stacking machine 14. As the latter is approached, a further switch causes a solenoid-operated valve to close part of the exhaust system from the ram 42 and forces the remaining air to exhaust through a throttle valve, thus dampening the end of the ram stroke. Further switches are also operated by the carriage at this stage to cause the gates 82 to swing open and to cause a solenoid-operated valve to effect downward movement of the ram 88 to push the stack into the wrapping machine. At the bottom of the ram stroke a head 132a on a rod 132 attached to the ram plate 86 operates a further switch, causing the ram to return upwardly, leaving the stack SP in the wrapping machine. Specification 920,756 is referred to.