US1988855A

US1988855A - Material handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1988855A
Application number: US658069A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jacob J Neuman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-02-23
Filing date: 1933-02-23
Publication date: 1935-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1952-01-22

Description

Jan. 22, 1935.

J. J. NEUMAN MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Feb; 23, 1933 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- aco J- flamam ORN EY- lava/ a M ATT Jan. 22, 1935. J. J. NEUMAN MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 2 sneeti-sneet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1933 Q mm m mflm UK Patented Jan. 22, 1935 QUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 1,988,855 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Jacob J. Neuman, Jamaica, N. Y. Application February 23, msaseriai No. 658,069

7 Claims. (01. 104-153) This invention relates to material handling apparatus, and in part is a continuation of my pending application for patent Serial Number 558,689, filed August 22, 1931.

It is the primary object and purpose of the present invention to provide a relatively simple apparatus whereby commodities, such as raw sugar, may be expeditiously handled at the dock or pier for the purpose of first weighing the same, and then transporting the weighed bags or packages to a conveyer, storage elevator or other relatively remote point so that the manual labor heretofore incident to the handling of such materials may be reduced to a minimum.

To the above end, it is one of the important objects of the invention to provide traveling hoists suitably mounted on a pier or dock each having means for raising and lowering a plurality of bags of sugar or other material, and means for automatically controlling the travel of the hoists and the operation thereof whereby the load of each hoist is first positioned upon the weighing scale, and after being weighed, is then transported to a position above a conveyer and the load discharged thereon.

It is another object of the invention to provide means for connecting the load hoist with a trolley frame mounted on a monorail whereby excessive strain upon the hoist and the monorail when the load is picked up from a position at one side of the latter is obviated.

It is also an object of my invention to provide automatically acting means for controlling the travel of the hoist trolleys so as to prevent collision between the same when one trolley is stationary at the weighing station.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide means for transporting the bags of sugar or other material from the unloading station embodying high and low speed conveyers arranged in alignment, said low speed conveyer receiving the bags thereon in superimposed relation, and means interposed between said con; veyers for effecting the separation of the bags and their single delivery in succession from the low speed to the high speed conveyer, from which the contents of the bags are adapted to be discharged into a receiving hopper or bin.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved material handling apparatus, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the claims.

subjolned In the drawings wherein I have illustrated one simple and practical embodiment of my present improvements, and in which similar ref- 5 erence characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a plan view illustrating one installation of my present invention and showing the same arranged upon a pier or dock for handling the bags of material as they are unloaded from the hold of the vessel;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale showing one of the bag hoists and its trolley with the control means therefor;

Fig. 3 is vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and for the present more particularly to Fig.

20 1 thereof,

for the purpose of illustrating one application and use of my present invention, I have shown a continuous monorail track 5, preferably though not necessarily, having a cross sectional I-beam form which is suitably supported upon the water front dock at which the cargoes of vessels are to be unloaded. A number of electrically controlled hoists generally indicated at 6 are mounted in suspended. relation from the continuous monorail 5 for longitudinal traveling movement. Preferably, each hoistat the top thereof, is suspended from the rod or trunnion 7 mounted in the trolley frame 8, so that said hoist has transverse swinging movement relative to said trolley The elongated frame 8 is in turn susframe. pended from the monorail 5 by the front and rear trolleys 9 and 10 respectively, the former being power-driven by a reversible electric motor indicated at 11.

The hoist 6 is also operated by a reversible electric motor 12 movable as a unit with said hoist with respect to the trolley frame 8. The hoist includes the cable sheave 13 raised and lowered in the operation of the motor 12 and which is provided with the hook 14 to which the load receiving sling 15 is adapted to be connected.

from the housing of the hoist 6.

The arm 19 at the opposite side of the frame 55 17 is movable in a vertically disposed guide 22 suitably attached to the hoist and is provided at its upper end with a bracket 23, on which a vertically adjustable bolt or stud 24 is mounted. This stud is adapted to actuate a switch 25 and break the hoisting circuit of the motor 12 to automatically limit the upward movement of the load. A coil spring 26 attached to the bracket 23 and to a bracket 27 on the lower end of guide 22 moves the frame 17 downwardly to its normal position and thereby urges rollers 28 on the lower end of said frame under pressure against the upper bags B carried by the sling 15 to thus stabilize the load and prevent swinging or swaying motion thereof relative to the hoist.

' In addition to the trolleys 9 and 10, a trailer trolley 28 is spaced a short distance rearwardly from the frame 8 and is connected therewith by a chain or other flexible element indicated at 29. This trolley 28 at its rear side carries an arm or projection 30 with which a switch operating button 31 on the forward end of the following trolley frame 8 is adapted to engage to operate the switch and break the travel motor circuit for the latter trolley frame. Any slight forward motion of said trolley after its motor circuit is broken will result in the forward motion of the trailer trolley 28 of the advance trolley frame 8, and thus produce slack in the chain connection 29. This relative movement between frame 8 and the trolley 28 is essential, since it is not possible to bring the trolley to an instant stop upon the breaking of its motor travel circuit. Chain 29 is normally kept taut by the provision of a leaf spring member 32 having frictional bearing engagement upon the wheels of the trailer trolley 28 which results in a braking action and causes said trolley to drag behind the main trolley. Complete control of travel motor 11 and hoist motor 12 is attained through switch units at the lower ends of the sheathed conductors indicated at 33 and 34, depending from the trailer trolley 28, said current conductors being connected with the motors through the connection indicated at 35 extend ing between the main trolley frame 8 and the trailer trolley 28. The switch unit for the control of motor 11 has a manually operable arm indicated at 36 which when moved in one direction from a neutral position closes the motor circuit for forward travel, and when moved in the opposite direction, closes the motor circuit for rearward travel of the trolley. This switch arm or lever will remain set in the forward position but preferably is returned by means of a suitable spring upon release from the reverse to the neutral position. v

The switch unit for the control of the hoist motor 12 includes an up-button 37 closing the motor circuit in one direction to hoist the load; a down-button 38 to close the motor circuit in the reverse direction and lower the load and a stop button 39. However, in addition to these control switches, I provide certain automatically operating limit switches for controlling the motor circuits independently of said manually operable switches as will be presently described.

At a suitable point upon the dock beneath one side of the monorail 5, the Government and merchant scales generally indicated at S upon which the bags of sugar are to be weighed, are

. suitably positioned. At a proper point so as to stop the travelinghoist and its load above the scales S, a solenoid 40 is mounted at one side of the monorail 5 and operates when energized to lift a shoe 41 on the lower end of the solenoid core 42. This shoe when in its lower or normal position is adapted to actuate a normally closed switch 43 carried by the trolley frame 8 to open the circuit of motor 11 and thus stop further travel of the hoist. A similar switch actuating shoe is also mounted at. a suitable point in advance of the scales S and is actuated to switch releasing position by the solenoid indicated at 44. The solenoid 44 being in advance of the solenoid 40 prevents a second trolley from bumping another trolley which is at the unloading station. The circuits of these

solenoids

40 and 44 may be closed by the operation of a common push button or other type of switch arranged at the oflice or house of the scale attendant.

There is also fixed to one side of the monorail 5, a shoe 45 which operates a normally open switch 46 on the trolley frame 8 to close the lowering circuit of the hoist motor 12, when the hoist arrives at the unloading position. The switch 46 is in the circuit of the switch 39 and provides a safety means to prevent operation of the motor 12 until the trolley arrives at the unloading station. In suitably spaced relation from the shoe 45, a lever 47 is fulcrumed in spaced relation to one of its ends as at 48 at the top of monorail 5, and has suspended from said end thereof a shoe 49 which engages the movable element of switch 43 and opens said switch to break the circuit of motor 11, thus bringing the trolley to a stop. This lever 4'! provides an alternative means which is manually operable for stopping the trolley.

When the trolley is automatically stopped above the weighing scales by the operation of switch 43 by the shoe 41, the button 38 of the manually controlled switch unit for motor 12 is then pressed so as to operate said motor and lower the load carried in sling 15 to the scale platform. The lowering movement is stopped by breaking the motor circuit by actuation of push button 39 or an automatically acting limit switch may be provided in the motor circuit for this purpose. After weighing, the button 37 is pressed so as to again raise the load into contact with frame 17 whereby switch 25 is operated in the manner above explained to automatically break the motor circuit. The scale attendant then presses the button to energize the

solenoids

40 and 44, thus lifting the shoe 41 and permitting switch 43 to return to normally closed positions so that the travel motor 11 is energized. Thus the hoist with the weighed sugar bags progresses towards the unloading station and the succeeding hoist takes its place above the scale platform.

The switch 43 is connected to the motor 11 by means of a. conductor 43a, shown diagram-- matically in Fig. 2. One side of the switch 43 is connected to the motor 11 by the conductor 43a, and the other side of the switch 43 is connected to a source of current supply by a conductor 43b. A conductor 11a is connected to the motor 11 at one end, and at its other end is connected to a source of current supply. The switch 46 is connected by a conductor 46a to one side of the motor 12, and a conductor 46b conductor 12a connects the motor 12 to a source of current supply associated with the switch 25.

As herein shown, there is arranged below one end of the rectangular track or monorail 5, the

end of a low speed load receiving conveyer 50 driven by the motor 51, said conveyer at one of its ends having its upper stretch disposed in an obliquely inclined plane as at 53 by engaging the same around the vertically and laterally spaced sprockets 52. Arranged below and substantially in alignment with this inclined section 53 of the conveyer 50, is a guide chute 54 which guides and directs the sugar bags B upon the upper stretch of the high speed conveyer 55 preferably arranged in longitudinal alignment with the conveyer 50 and driven by a separate motor 56. The sugar bags or the contents thereof may be delivered from conveyer 55 in any suitable manner into the receiving hopper or bin indicated at 57.

When the hoists arrive above the end of the conveyer 50, switches 43 and 46 are actuated in the manner above explained so as to stop the travel of the hoist trolley and close the lowering circuit of hoist motor 12, thereby lowering the load of sugar bags upon the end of conveyer 50, where an operator is stationed to release said bags from the sling 15. Upon lifting the shoe 49 by means of operating element 47 connected to lever 47, the switch 43 will return to closed position to close the circuit of motor 11 and continue the travel of the hoist. The sugar bags are thus received upon this conveyer 50 without regard to distribution thereof and in superimposed relation. When the bags reach the inclined section 53 of conveyer 50, the upper bags fall downwardly thereon over the lower bags which are in direct contact with the conveyer and are guided by the chute section 54 to the high speed conveyer 55. Therefore, owing to the relatively high speed of travel of the latter conveyer, the bags will be received upon the latter from conveyer 50 in a more or less separated relation. This is of course absolutely necessary where the individual bags are opened to deliver the contents thereof into the bin or hopper 57 in the manner explained in my copending application heretofore referred to.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of my invention as herein disclosed will be clearly and fully understood. It will be seen that I have provided a simple and reliably operating apparatus whereby such heavy bags of sugar or other material may be expeditiously handled, weighed and transported to a predetermined destination. The automatic control means herein referred to enables the several operations to be carried out with absolute safety, both to the apparatus and to the necessary attendants in charge thereof, and enables the manual labor which has heretofore been incident to the handling of such materials to be reduced to a minimum. Since the means which I provide for preventing swinging movement of the load during the travel of the hoist is highly effective for this purpose,'the weighing and conveyance of the load is greatly facilitated and the apparatus relieved of excessive strains, while possible accidental release of the load from the-hoist is obviated.

In the foregoing description of the accompanying drawings, I have disclosed one embodiment of the essential features of my present invention,

which I believeto be entirely practical for the purpose in view. It is nevertheless to be understood that my invention might also be incorporated in various other alternative structural forms, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a supporting track, a plurality of trolley frames, front and rear trolleys supporting each frame from the track, an operating motor for driving each trolley frame along the track, switch means for independently controlling the motor circuits of the several trolley motors, each including a normally closed switch on said frame in the circuit of the respective trolley motors, vertically movable switch operating shoes longitudinally spaced apart along said track and in their normal positions actuating said switches on adjacent trolley frames to open the respective trolley motor circuits, and means associated with the respective shoes to simultaneously lift the same from their normal positions and permit the return of said switches to circuit closing position.

2. In combination with a supporting track, a trolley frame, front and rear trolleys supporting said frame from the track, a drive motor for one of said trolleys, a trailer trolley on said track movably connected to the rear end of said frame, an impact operated switch on the front end of said trolley frame actuated to break the trolley motor circuit by impact with the trailer trolley connected with another trolley frame on said track, and means for creating a constant drag on the trailer trolley whereby to maintain the same in spaced relation to the trolley frame.

3. In combination with a suporting track, a trolley frame mounted for travel on said track, an operating motor for the trolley frame, a normally closed switch on the trolley frame in the circuit of said motor, a switch operating shoe movably mounted in the track and normally positioned to actuate said switch and open the trolley motor circuit, and electro-magnetic means associated with said shoe adapted to beenergized to displace the shoe from its normal position and permit the return of the motor switch to circuit closing position.

4. In combination with a supporting track,

trolley frames mounted to travel thereon, an

operating motor for each trolley frame, a normally closed switch on each frame in the circuit of the trolley motor, movable switch operating members longitudinally spaced apart along said track and occupying normal positions to actuate the switches on adjacent trolley frames to open the respective trolley motor circuits, and manually energizable electromagnetic means associated with each of said movable members to displace the same from their normal positions and permit the return of said switches to circuit closing positions.

5. In combination, a supporting track, a trolley frame mounted to travel thereon, a motor for driving the trolley on said track, circuit connections for the motor including a normally closed switch carried by the trolley frame for maintaining the running circuit of the motor energized, a movable abutment positioned adjacent to said track and normally in the path of movement of said trolley-carried switch to contact the same and to operate the switch to open position, causing stopping of the trolley frame with the switch in contact with said abutment, and manually controlled means to move the abutment out of contact with said swich when it-is desired to close the motor circuit to further move the trolley along the track.

6. In combination, a supporting track, a plurality of trolley frames mounted for travel thereon, each of said trolley frames being provided with a motor for driving the respective trolley frames, circuit connections for each of said motors including normally closed switches carried by the trolley frames, including at least one switch arranged in each motor circuit for maintaining said circuits energized, a plurality of movable, spaced abutments positioned along said track and normally in the path of movement of said switch carried by the trolley frames, whereby to engage the same during travel of the frames on the track to operate the said switches successively to opened position to thereby stop the trolley frames, and means for moving the abutments out ofv contacting relationship with said switches to cause closing thereof and subse- -quent travel of the frame, said abutments being movable together to and from operative positions whereby to maintain the track between said abutments free of trolleys.

7. In combination, a supporting track, a plurality of trolley frames mounted for travel thereon, each of said trolley frames being provided with a motor for driving the respective trolley frames, circuit connections for each of said motors including normally closed switches carried by the trolley frames, including at least one switch arranged in each motor circuit for maintaining said circuits energized, a plurality of movable, spaced abutments positioned along said track and normally in the path of movement of said switch carried by the trolley frames, whereby to engage the same during travel of the frames on the track to operate the said switches successively to opened position to thereby stop the trolley frames, and means for moving the abutments out of contacting relationship with said switches to cause closing thereof and subsequent travel of the frame, said abutments being movable together to and from operative positions whereby to maintain the track between said abutments free of trolleys, said trolley frames each carrying a second normally closed switch disposed to be opened by impact with a trolley in advance thereof, whereby to prevent crowding of the frames on the track in front of the first of said abutments.

JACOB J. NEUMAN.