IES85077Y1 - A stacking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present invention provides a stacking apparatus which is adapted to effect the automatic stacking of objects in a nested arrangement for transport and/or storage purposes, the apparatus comprising a feeding assembly which is arranged to nest a pair of objects, and a stacking station to which the nested pairs of objects are fed for subsequent stacking in an array.

Description

Field of the invention This invention relates to a stacking apparatus, in particular for effecting the automated stacking of objects in a nested arrangement in order to minimize the overall dimensions of the stacked objects for transport and/or storage purposes.

Summary of the invention According to the present invention there is provided a stacking apparatus comprising first and second guideways; a feeding assembly adapted to receive an object to be stacked, the feeding assembly being displaceable between first and second positions from which an object on the feeding assembly may be respectively deposited onto the first and second guideway.

Preferably, the first and second guideways are substantially coterminous.

Preferably, the feeding assembly comprises a plurality of receptacles each shaped to receive an object to be stacked, the feeding assembly being mounted for rotation between the first and second positions.

Preferably, the plurality of receptacles are mounted in a circular array about an axis of rotation of the feeding assembly.

Preferably, the feeding assembly is displaceable into a third position between the first and second positions, in which third position an object to be stacked may be deposited onto the feeding assembly.

Preferably, each receptacle comprises an open end to facilitate the loading thereof.

Preferably, the feeding assembly is mounted adjacent an upper end of a funnel whose opposed sidewalls define the first and second guideways.

P88857IE00/May 08, 20 to un Preferably, the guideways are arranged to permit the gravity feed of a pair of stacked objects from the ends of the guideways onto a collection point.

Preferably, the stacking apparatus comprises means for displacing a pair of stacked objects from the collection point.

Preferably, the stacking apparatus comprises means for holding a pair of stacked objects at or adjacent the ends of the guideways until the collection point is unoccupied.

Preferably, the displacing means is adapted to retain a pair of stacked objects in a fixed orientation at the collection point and during displacement of the objects away from the collection point.

Preferably, the displacing means is adapted to effect the staged displacement of stacked objects from the collection point.

Preferably, the stacking apparatus comprises a transfer zone into which the displacing means feeds stacked objects.

Preferably, the stacking apparatus comprises a stacking station fed with objects stacked at the feeding assembly, the stacking station comprising means for retaining a plurality of pairs of stacked objects in an array for packing purposes.

Preferably, the retaining means comprises a unidirectional gate; means for conveying a pair of stacked objects past the gate; and a displaceable support downstream of the gate with respect to the direction of travel of the objects, and located in the path of the objects.

Preferably, the unidirectional gate comprises a latch.

Preferably, the displaceable support comprise a chain.

Preferably, the stacking station comprises means for orienting pairs of stacked objects prior to being secured by the retaining means.

P88857IE00/May O8, 20 I\) an Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 illustrates a sectioned side elevation of a stacking apparatus according to the present invention, at the start of a stacking cycle; Figure 2 illustrates the stacking apparatus of Figure 1, in which a set of stacked obj ects is being displaced towards a transfer conveyor; Figure 3 illustrates the stacking apparatus of Figure 2 in a further stage of operation; Figure 4 illustrates the stacking apparatus when returned to the start of a stacking cycle, and with a set of stacked objects on the transfer conveyor; Figure 5 illustrates a sectioned side elevation of a stacking station fomiing part of the stacking apparatus of the invention, which is fed with stacked objects from the transfer COIIVC yOl'; Figure 6 illustrates the stacking station of figure 5, where a set of stacked objects has be re- oriented for passage through the stacking station; and Figure 7 illustrates the stacking station with two separate arrays of stacked objects located therein.

Detailed description of the drawings Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a stacking apparatus, generally indicated as 10, which is adapted to effect the automated stacking of objects A in a nested arrangement for transport and/or storage purposes in order to minimise the overall volume of the stacked objects A. In the embodiment illustrated the objects are in the form of a substantially C-shaped section of metal, although it will be appreciated that the apparatus 10 is capable of stacking a wide variety of objects of different size/shape.

P88857IE00/May 08, 2030 The apparatus 10 comprises a feeding assembly 12 which comprises three receptacles 14 mounted in a circular array for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the feeding assembly 12.

A first fluid powered ram 16 is mounted adjacent to the feeding assembly 12 and is extendable/retractable in order to effect rotation or reciprocation of the array of receptacles as described in detail below.

The feeding assembly 12 is mounted above a funnel 18 which defines a first guideway 20 and an opposed second guideway 22 which are substantially co-terminus with one another.

The co-terminus ends of the guideways 20, 22 are spaced from one another in order to define a slot through which, as will be described hereinafter, a pair of the nested objects A can pass.

Referring to Figure 1 it can be seen that a single object A is located in the upper most receptacle 14. From here the feeding assembly 12 may be displaced into a first position by counter-clockwise rotation effected by the first ram 16, whereby the object A will fall from the open topped receptacle 14 onto the first guideway 20 and thus slide down towards the lower end. The feeding assembly 12 may also be displaced into a second position by rotation in a clockwise direction from the position illustrated in Figure 1, whereby the object A would be deposited on to the second guideway 22. The feeding assembly 12 may also position each receptacle to be in a third position, where the receptacle 14 is located in the horizontal and upper most position for receiving an object A. Although not illustrated, a conveyor (not shown) or the like feeds the objects A onto the upper most receptacle 14 of the feeding assembly 12.

The stacking apparatus 10 further comprises a bed 24 which supports the apparatus 10 on a number of feet 26. It will however be appreciated that any other suitable support structure may be provided for the apparatus 10. The bed 24 defines a collection point 28 directly beneath the co-terminus ends of the guidways 20, 22. The apparatus 10 further comprises displacing means in the form of a double-ended ram 30 which comprises a first end 32 adapted to effect the staged displacement of stacked objects A away from the collection point 28, and a second end 34 which is extendable in order to displace an array of the stacked objects A onto a transfer zone 36, from which the objects A are transported to a further portion of the apparatus 10, as described hereinafter.

P88857IE00/May 08, 2008 The displacing means additionally comprises a third fluid powered ram 38 which is secured beneath the collection point 28. The ram 38 includes a stop 40 secured to the free end of the ram 38, and which projects upwardly into a position adjacent to the collection point 28.

The stop 40 holds stacked objects A in the upright position as illustrated in Figure 1 while at the collection point 28 and during the staged displacement thereof to the transfer zone 36.

The third ram 38 is therefore arranged, in use, to move simultaneously with the first end 32 of the double ended ram 30. The third ram 38 is fixed to a table 42 which is hingedly mounted at one end to the bed 24. A fourth ram 44 is positioned beneath the table 42 and secured thereto, and is retractable from the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, to the position illustrated in Figure 3, in order to effect the downward hinging of the table 42, and therefore the third ram 38. This downward displacement of the third ram 38 removes the stop 40 from its position holding the stacked objects A against the first end 32 of the double ended ram 30. This then allows the array of stacked objects A to be displaced into the transfer zone 36.

Turning to the detailed operation of the stacking apparatus 10, the objects A are fed at fixed intervals to the feeding assembly 12, and as mentioned above, preferably by means of a conveyor (not shown) which is arranged to deposit individual objects A into whichever receptacle 14 is located in the horizontal or third position. Once an object A is located in said receptacle 14, the feeding assembly 12 is displaced into the first position by counter- clockwise rotation thereof, thereby depositing the object A onto the first guideway 20. At this point in the cycle, the first end 32 of the double ended ram is in a slightly extended position such that a head 46 located at the free end thereof is occluding the opening between the co-terminus ends of the first and second guideways 20, 22. The head 46 therefore prevents the object A from falling from the first guideway 20 onto the collection point 28.

Extending rearwardly from the head 46 is holding means in the form of a shield 48 which implements this same functionality during the staged displacement of the first end 32, as will be described hereinafter.

Returning then to the feeding assembly 12, as soon as the assembly 12 was rotated counter- clockwise by one third of a revolution the adjacent empty receptacle 14 was simultaneously advanced into the third position to receive the next object A. Once this object A is located within the receptacle 14 the feeding assembly 12 is rotated in a clockwise direction in order to deposit the object A onto the second guideway 22. This object then slides down the P88857IEOO/May 08, 2030 second guideway 22 and due to the substantially co-terminus nature of the first and second guideways 20, 22 becomes nested within the first object A, for example as illustrated in Figure 2. The first end 32 is then fully retracted in order to withdraw the head 46 from beneath the co-terminus ends of the guideways 20, 22. This allows the pair of nested objects A to drop onto the collection point 28, to be sandwiched between the head 46 and the stop 40 as illustrated in Figure 1. During this time a further object A will have been deposited onto the empty receptacle 14 in the third position.

At this point both the first end 32 of the double ended ram 30, and the third ram 38, are advanced a short distance towards the transfer zone 36, in order to move the pair of nested objects A from the collection point 28. The above cycle for the feeding assembly 12 is then repeated, rotating the upper most receptacle 14 counter-clockwise in order to deposit another object A onto the flrst guideway 20. Again the head 46 is positioned beneath the co- terminus ends of the guideways 20, 22, preventing this object A from falling onto the collection point 28. A further object A is then deposited into the feeding assembly 12 and from there onto the second guideway 22 to slide down and become nested with the previously deposited object A. The first end 32 is then retracted in order to withdraw the head 46 from beneath the guideways 20, 22. However, the third ram 38 is not retracted, and thus the stop 40 remains in position ensuring that the pair of nested objects A already positioned on the table 42 do not topple over upon retraction of the head 46. Once the head 46 is retracted, the pair of nested objects A within the funnel 18 drop through the gap between the guideways 20, 22 and onto the collection point 28. The first end 32 may again be advanced in order to clear this pair of nested objects A from the collection point 28. Thus at this point two pairs of nested objects A are held between the stop 40 and the head 46.

This cycle is repeated until a desired number of pairs of nested objects A are located between the stop 40 and the head 46, for example five pairs of nested objects A.

Referring then to Figure 2, at this point the second end 34 of the double ended ram 30 is extended in order to displace the five pairs of nested objects A along the table 42 and onto the transfer zone 36. The provision of the shield 48 prevents any of objects A located within the funnel 18 from falling towards the collection point 28 during this displacement.

Once the second end 34 has been fully extended such that the objects A are located in the transfer zone 36, the fourth ram 44 is then actuated in order to retract the stop 40. This P88857IEO0/May 08,20 K) VJ! action is illustrated in Figure 3. Once released the objects A are advanced along a transfer conveyor 50 and between a pair of guides 52 (only illustrated in Figure 4) in order to ensure the objects A remain in the stacked and nested arrangement illustrated. From here, the double ended ram 30 and the third ram 38 are fully retracted into the position illustrated in Figure 4 in order to begin the above mentioned cycle again.

From the transfer zone 36 the array of stacked and nested objects A are transferred, via the transfer conveyor 50, to a stacking station 60 which forms part of the apparatus 10 of the present invention, and which is illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. The stacking station 60 is located adjacent an end of the transfer conveyor 50, and itself comprises a conveyor 62 which forms a bed of the stacking station 60. In the embodiment illustrated, the array of nested objects A arrive on the transfer conveyor 50 in a first orientation, but it is desired to stack and wrap the objects A for transport/storage, in a second orientation. Thus the stacking station 60 comprises orienting means in the form of a platform 64 which is displaceable between a first position lying substantially flush with the transfer conveyor 50 and a second position, illustrated in Figure 6, extending substantially vertically. The platform 64 is secured to a lever 66 which is driven by a fifth ram 68 in order to displace the platform 64 between the first and second positions. As an array of the nested objects A arrive, the platform 64 is in the first position and the transfer conveyor 50 therefore advances the objects A onto the platform 64. The platform 64 is then displaced into the second position by the fifth ram 68, which simultaneously positions the objects A onto the conveyor 62.

Located just downstream of the leading edge of the conveyor 62 is retaining means in the form of a gate 70 which is arranged to permit the unidirectional displacement of the array of nested objects A therepast. The gate 70 comprises a support 72 to which is hingedly mounted a latch lever 74, which projects upstream of the support 72. The lever 74 includes a nose 76 having a tapered leading edge 78 and a square trailing edge 80, the nose 76 being positioned at a height corresponding to that of the upper most set of nested objects A of the array. On being displaced into the second orientation and onto the conveyor 62, the upper most set of objects A contacts the leading edge 78 of the nose 76. As the conveyor 62 advances the objects A downstream, this forces the latch lever 74 to pivot upwardly in order to allow the passage of the objects A therepast. Once past the latch lever 74 drops back into the position illustrated in Figure 7, whereby the square trailing edge 80 prevents the objects P88857IE00/May O8, 20 A from toppling backwards. At this point, the platform 64 is displaced back into the first position, flush with the conveyor 62, in readiness for the next set of objects A to be transferred from the transfer conveyor 50. In order to prevent the objects A from toppling forward away from the latch lever 74, a displaceable support in the form of a chain 82 is provided on the gate 70, and hangs downwardly as illustrated in Figure 5. The chain 82 therefore traps and holds the objects A between the latch lever 74 and the chain 82.

At this point, another set of objects A arrive on the transfer conveyor 50 and are subjected to the same cycle as hereinbefore described. Upon being displaced into the second orientation by the platform 64, this second array of objects A will again be pushed past the latch lever 74 and into contact with the previous set of objects A, thereby displacing these objects downstream in a stepwise fashion. This downstream displacement of the objects A forces the chain 82 rearwardly, the flexibility of the chain 82 allowing same to conform to the objects A during this displacement, in order to retain the objects A in position. This cycle is repeated over and over until a large number of the objects A are stacked in a large array as illustrated in Figure 7. At this point the large array of objects A may be suitably wrapped or bound for transport/storage.

However, in the embodiment illustrated the stacking station 60 includes a second gate 88 which is essentially identical in function to the first gate 70, at which second gate 88 the large array of objects A may be wrapped/bound, thereby freeing up the first gate 70 to continuously receive objects A from the transfer zone 36 of the apparatus 10. The conveyor 62 may therefore be driven in order to displace the large array of objects A from the first gate 70 to the second gate 88. In order to prevent the rearmost column of objects A from toppling during this transfer, the stacking station 60 is provided with a sixth ram 84, which is extended until a tip 86 thereof is abutting against the rearmost column of objects A. As the large array of objects A are displaced by the conveyor 60 the sixth ram 84 is further extended in order to retain the tip 86 against the rearmost objects A. Once the full array of objects A reaches the second gate 88, the sixth ram 84 may be retracted in readiness for the next set of objects A.

Once the large array of objects A have been wrapped or otherwise secured at the second gate , they may then be transferred to a further location by any suitable means, for example, to a warehouse or loading bay for onward transport.

P88857IEO0/May 08, 2008

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A stacking apparatus comprising first and second guideways; a feeding assembly adapted to receive an object to be stacked, the feeding assembly being displaceable between first and second positions from which an object on the feeding assembly may be respectively deposited onto the first and second guideway.

2. A stacking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 in which the feeding assembly comprises a plurality of receptacles each shaped to receive an object to be stacked, the feeding assembly being mounted for rotation between the first and second positions.

3. A stacking apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the guideways are arranged to permit the gravity feed of a pair of stacked objects from the ends of the guideways onto a collection point; the apparatus further comprising means for displacing a pair of stacked objects from the collection point.

4. A stacking apparatus according to any preceding claim comprises a stacking station fed with objects stacked at the feeding assembly, the stacking station comprising means for retaining a plurality of pairs of stacked objects in an array for packing purposes.

5. A stacking apparatus according to claim 4 in which the retaining means comprises a unidirectional gate; means for conveying a pair of stacked objects past the gate; and a displaceable support downstream of the gate with respect to the direction of travel of the objects, and located in the path of the objects.