US2350449A - Machine for handling boxes and similar articles - Google Patents

Description

H. D. CUCH June 6, 1944.

2,350,449 MACHI'NE FOR HANDLING BOXES AND SIM'ILAR'ARTICLES F1165 Sept- 7. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 3 3 wm n/ll g 3 u m. su 4 .m n. ls, /2/ 2l uw 6 9 J 2 F 5 2 @avc/7 H. D. COUCH June 6, 1944.-

MACHINE FOR HANDLING BOXES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed sept. r'7. 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 mvExaTroRl #aro/d. Coz/ck BY I 1 g ATTORNEY Patented June 6, 1944 MACHINE FOR HANDLING BOXES AND SIMUJAR ARTICLES Harold D. Couch, Peshastin, Wash.` Application September 7, 1942, Serial No. 457,626

8 Claims.

My invention relates to a machine for handling boxes and similar articles. n

An objectof my invention is to provide an automatic machine for receiving stacks of boxes or like articles directly from hand trucks at oor level Without necessitating the handling of each individual box or package and elevating and conveying said stacks of boxes for high decking purposes to a location where they are stacked on other boxes.

Another object of my invention is to provide an elevating and stacking machine of thisV nature having novel and efficient hydraulic actuating means that is fully automatic in operation and that is controlled by the boxes or packages that are being handled by the machine.

Another object is to provide an elevating and stacking machine of this nature having a swingingly mounted elevator section adapted when lowered to receive from a hand truck a load of boxes or like articles stacked one upon the other and adapted when elevated to discharge said stack of boxes or articles by gravity onto a roller conveyor whereon the boxes or articles will move by gravity to a location Where they may be removed and stacked on a high level and usually upon other stacked boxes in a warehouse or packing shed.

Another object is to provide an elevating and stacking machine of this type having efficient means carried by the lower end portion of a* swingingly mounted elevator section for receiving a stack of boxes or like articles directly from a hand truck and for insuring the easy withdrawal of the hand truck from the position vkI where it delivers the boxes before the autothe same time reduce the strain on the persons handling the articles.

Other objectsof the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

For purposes of clarity in this description I have described my invention as embodied in a box elevating and stacking machine of a type particularly adapted for high decking apples in boxes but it will be understood that the invention may be adapted for many other uses in the handling of various articles.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention showing by full lines the swinging elevator of the machine in a lowered position and by dot and dash lines the swinging elevator in a raised position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1 showing the 'elevator section in raised position. l

Fig. 3 is a front elevation on a slightly larger scale than Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing the swinging elevator section in lowered position.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation on a slightly larger scale than Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the line 4-4 oi Fig. 1, parts being shown in section and the showing of the swinging elevator section being omitted to avoid confusion.

. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detached View partly in section and partly in elevation showing load supporting parts at the lower end portion of the swinging elevator section.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on broken line 6 6 oi Fig. 2 and illustrating telescopic box conveyor means.

Fig. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic View with parts broken away showing a load controlled hydraulic lift means.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a valve showing electrical control means for the same.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

The frame of my box elevator is made upof a rectangular base portion I0, upright frame members II, diagonal brace members I2 at the sides of the machine, diagonal cross brace members I3 at the back of the machine and transverse frame members I s extending crosswise between the upright frame members II. Two of the transverse frame members III are at the top ends of the upright frame members I I.

When this invention is embodied in an apple box elevator and conveyor I preferably make the base frame about four feet long and three feet wide and the upright frame about six feet high.

The base frame I is preferably provided at the four corners with caster wheels 9 which permit the machine to be readily pushed about by hand on the floor on which it rests. I

Three sections of gravity roller platform, provided respectively with side bars I5, I6 and I 'I are connected with the upper end portion of the upright frame I I. Each of these gravity roller platform sections preferably comprises a rec- Yto extending above the top plane of the rails so that when any object having an approximately at side, such as an apple box I9, is placed on one of these gravity roller platforms it will rest from movement.

The roller platform shown at the left in Figs.

boxes I9. Preferably a transverse rocker shaft 32 is pivotally supported by the forward edge portion of the platform 3| and two rocker members 1 and 2 and designated therein as I5 is a re, y

ceiving and conveying platform. Said platformf I has one end portion thereof connected with 33 vare secured to the respective end portions of this transverse rocker 'shaft 32. The rocker members 33 are slightly unbalanced as respects the pivot shaft 32 so that gravity will tend to Y ,move them into the inclined position shown in the upper end Vportion of the upright framel Il by pivot means 20. When the machine is in use this platform I5 is supported at a slight incline relative to the horizontal, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and functions as a conveyor platform on which boxes will move by gravity toward the left as respects the showing in Fig. l. When the machine is not in use the platform I5 may be lowered so that it will hang vertically alongside of theupright frame II`,,as shown by dotlrand dash lines in Fig. 1. h

Preferably the conveyor section or platform is `telescopicso that it can be extended oi-{shortened at will. To make this platform I5 telescopicI preferably provide a narrower outer end portion comprising angle bars 2 I, Figs-1, 2 and 6, that rest upon and-slide Aon the flanges Vof the angle bar side members I5 of said platform. A strip or bead 22 of metal is preferably welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the angle bars I5 just above the base flanges thereof to cooperate in forming trackways for the flanges of the angle bars 2I to 'slide in.-Suitable cross bars 23 are rigidly secured between the angle bars 2| and plates 24 are rigidly secured between the angle bars I5. Preferably the conveyor section I5 with extension 2I Vis about seven feet long when extended to its maximum length. Rollers 29 are provided on the angle bars 2I in positions so that they .will be flush withthe topV plane of the rollers I8 on the side bars I5. Y

A support 25 is preferably provided on the outer end portion of the extension members 2| and extends downwardly therefrom and is adapted to rest on previously stacked boxes I9 when this machine is in use, see Fig. l. berr25 is preferably provided near the outer end of the conveyor platformr I5 and extends above the plane of said conveyor platform I5 to arrest movement of the boxes I 9 before said boxes move off of the end ofthe conveyor I5.

Theftransfer section IB of gravity roller platform bridges the gap between the adjacent ends of Yconveyor section I5 and elevator section I1. This transfer section I5 issecured to the top end portions of the upright frame members II so that boxesjIS will move across the same from elevator section rI1 to rconveyor section I5. lThe elevator section I1 is pivoted on pivot means 30 and the said elevator section I1 is adapted to be moved between the loading posi-: tion shown by full lines and the discharging po-v siiton shown Iby dot and dash lines in Fig. 1. In

k the loading position the lower end portion of the elevator section preferably rests against a cross Ybar I3 ofA the base frame IIJ and is positioned close. to the oor. When in this loading position' the elevator section I1 preferably stands atan .I1 is. provided with a rigidly secured platform portion 3I that projects substantially at right ,angles outwardly therefrom. and isY sufficiently strong to support the weight of a pile or stack" of AV stop mem-l liquid reservoir 40 Fig. l with their outer ends lower than their inner ends. When the rocker members 33 are in this position a stack of boxes or like articles can readily be moved over them when carried on a hand truck. Preferably stop means 34 is providedto limit the swinging movement of the shaft 32 and rockermembers 33.y

The elevator section or roller platform I1 ,is adapted to be moved between the fullline position and the dot and dash line position shown in Fig. 1 by hydraulic means acting in. connection with gravity and controlled by the boxes I9.

The hydraulicv lift means comprises a cylinder 35, supported at its lower end by a pivotal support 36. A piston 31 within the hydraulic cylinder 35 is provided with a piston rod 38 that is connected by pivot means Y39 vwith the elevator section I1.

A liquid reservoir 40 is supported on the frame of the machine. The lower end portion of the is connected by conduit means 4I with the intake of a liquid pump 42 that is driven by a motor 43 through belt connecting means 44. The motor 43 and pump 42 operate continuously when the machine is in use. The high pressure fluid discharge side of the pump 42 is connected by conduit means 45 with the upper end portion of the liquid reservoir 4U. A branch conduit 46 connects the conduit 45 with the bottom end portion Aof the hydraulic cylinder 35. Another branch conduit 41 connects the conduit means 45 with the lower end portion of a pneumatic chamber 48. The chamber 48 serves as a lost motion means to retard and slow up the starting operation of the hydraulic lift means sothat the piston 31 will not start to move upwardly under the influence of liquid pressure until after the air in the chamber 48 is highly compressed.

A valve 50 in the conduit 45 between the branch conduits 46 and 41 and the liquid reservoir 40 controls the by-passing of liquid such as oil back to the reservoir 40. When the valve 50 is opened liquid will by-pass from the pump 42 to the reservoir 40 and the hydraulic lift will not be operated. When the valve 50 is closed liquid under pressure from the pump 40 will raise the piston 31 in the hydraulic cylinder 35. The valve 50 is adapted to be closed by gravity and by spring means 6I. The oW of liquid also helps to close such valve, as will be apparent from Fig. 8.

A liquid outlet port 5I is provided near the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder 35 and a conduit 52 connects the port 5I with the upper end portion of the liquid reservoir 40. When the piston 31, in its upward travel, uncovers the port 5I it will permit liquid in the hydraulic cylinder 35 to iiow into the reservoir 40 and the piston can not be raised any higher.

The valve 50 may be an ordinary globe valve with the threads removed from the stem so that said valve can be opened and closed by direct n force applied thereto rather than by turning.

ible control member, such as a chain 53 with the stem 54 of the valve 55 thence pass such flexible connector 53 over the pivot shaft 30 and connect it to a control or trip ibar 55 that is positioned alongside of the swingingly mounted elevator section Il. The trip bar 55 is connected to the elevator section il by parallel link members obliquely disposed and arranged so that when said trip bar 55 is depressed by a load it will also be moved longitudinally of the section il. A spring i9 is connected between the trip bar 55 and the elevator section Il and urges said trip bar toward the outer end of said elevator section I1. This tends to open the valve i) and the trip bar vmay be stopped 'by the pull of the chain 53 when the valve 50 is fully open.

When the trip bar 55 is not engaged by any boxes then the valve 5i) will be held open and a plurality of roll-ers 2S on the trip bar 55 will extend outwardly beyond thel plane of the rollers i8 on the elevator frame il. Ii a stack of boxes or like articles is leaned against the elevator frame il' some of these boxes or articles will engage with the trip bar 55 and depress the same.

This will move the said trip bar endwise to the left as respects the showing in Fig. '7 thus slackening the flexible connector 53 and allowing gravity and the spring 5l to close the valve 5B. This will start the operation of the hydraulic lift.

An electrical means for holding the valve 50 open and releasing the same to permit it to close is shown in Fig. 8. In this figure I show the valve stem 54 connected to the movable core 51 of a solenoid 58 and use the iiexi-ble connector 53 to close and hold closed a normally open switch 5S that controls the now of current to the solenoid 58. Preferably a spring 5i) yieldingly urges the switch 5S into open position. The spring i9r that is connected with the trip bar 55 is strong enough to overcome the pull oi the spring Eil when no boxes are in engagement with the trip bar 55.

In the absence of pressure against the trip bar `55 the switch 59 will be held closed, the solenoid 58 will be energized and the valve 55 will be held open. When pressure depresses the trip bar 55 the spring 45 will open the switch 59 and deenergize the solenoid 58 and gravity and the spring 5| will close the valve 55 and start operation of the hydraulic lift.

Operation In the operation of this device for elevating and stacking articles such as boxed apples, stacks of boxes i9, usually with five or six 1boxes inreach v stack, are wheeled on hand trucks to the device.

While the elevator section l1 is in the lowered position shown by full lines in Fig. l, a truck loaded with boxes I9 is wheeled into close proximity to said elevator section I? sov that the boxes are above the platform 3l and rocker members 33. The pick-up arms of the truck are spaced apart a greater distance than the rocker members Y 33 and will be clear of and outside of said rocker members 33. The truck is then tilted toward the I elevator section l1 to transfer the stack of boxes operator to withdraw his truck before said lift begins to swing the elevator section Il upwardly.

After enough hydraulic .pressure has built up in cylinder to begin to lift piston 3l the upward movement of said piston 3l and the elevator section il with the stack of boxes thereon will continue until the piston 3l begins to uncover the port 5| whereupon the liquid will begin to flow through the conduit 52 into the liquid reservoir and the elevator section il will be held in a substantially fixed position as long as any boxes remain in contact with the trip bar 55 to hold the valve 50 closed.

The port 5I is positioned so that the elevator section Il with the boxes i9 thereon will have been moved upwardly a short distance past a horizontal plane and will be substantially in the inclined position shown by dot and dash lines in Fig. l, before the piston 3'.' begins to uncover said port 5! and brings said elevator section il to a stop. As soon as the elevator section il has reached substantially the inclined position shown by dot and dash lines in Fig. l, gravity will begin to moverthe boxes thereon towardthe transfer section i5 and conveyor section I5. When the last box has moved off of the trip bar 55 the spring 49 will elevate said trip bar 55 and in so doing will open the valve 58, whereupon gravity will move the elevator section I1 downwardly as the liquid from the hydraulic cylinder iiows through conduits and 5 and past the open valve 5i! into the liquid reservoir Iii).

The operation of this device will be substantially the same irrespective of whether the valve 55 is operated by the mechanical means shown in Fig. 7, or the electrical means shown in Fig. 3.

When this device is used for elevating and stacking boxes of fruit the lower tiers of boxes are preferably first stacked without the use of this elevator and stacker to a height of about live feet. This elevator and stacker is then positioned close to the stacked boxes with the telescopic elevator section I5 preferably fully extended and projecting back over the tiers of previously stacked boxes. As fast as boxes are elevated and delivered onto the conveyor section l5 they are removed and stacked by an operator who stands on the previously stacked boxes. The conveyor section i5 is telescopically shortened as the high decking or stacking of the upper layers proceeds and the machine is moved at intervals as required.

The rnotor 43 and pump 52 operate continuously while the elevator and stacker is being used and the hydraulic liquid circulates continuously. The operation of the machine is smooth and even and not bumpy. The pneumatic chamber 55 helps to absorb shocks and contributes to the smoothness of operation.

Preferably the machine is timed so that it will require about thirty seconds after the valve is closed for one cycle of operation, i. e., for the elevator' section il to be fully raised. and discharge its load and return to the receiving position. The machine saves much heavy lifting on the part of the men who are handling the boxes and greatly speeds up the high decking operation.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose one preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure .is merely illustrative and that such changes in the device may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

stack of articles may be leaned against the same and a position inclined approximately five degrees from the horizontal whereby articles will discharge by gravity over the pivoted end portion of said elevator section; power actuated lift means connected with said elevator section; and control means folsaid lift means operatively Aassociated with said elevator section actuated vby load pressure against said'elevator section and released by the discharge of a load from said velevator section.

2. In elevator means, a frame; an elevator section mounted for swinging movement on said frame between a loading positionin which it is slightly inclined relative to the vertical whereby a load of stacked articles may be leaned against the same vand a discharging position in which it is slightly inclined relative to the horizontalwhereby articles willy discharge by gravity therefrom; article supporting rollers on said elevator section; article supporting shelf means on the lower end portion of said elevator section; hydraulic lift means connected with said elevator section; a valve controlling the operation of said hydraulic lift means; and load operated trip bar means carried by said elevator section operated by the load and controlling said valve.

3. In elevator means adapted'to receive a stack of boxes from a hand truck, a swingingly mounted elevator section movable between a loading position in which it is slightly inclined relative to the vertical and a gravity discharging position in which it is slightly inclined relative to the horizontal; power actuated lift means connected with said elevator section adapted to swingingly move said elevator section; control means for Vsaid power actuated lift means operable by the transfer of a stack of boxes from a hand truck to a leaning position against said elevator section; and time delay means embodied in said power actuated lift means providing for a delay in starting the elevating movement of said platform after a stack of boxes has been leaned against the same to allow time for the withdrawal of the hand truck.

4. In elevator means, a swingingly mounted elevator section; power actuated hydraulic lift means connected with said elevator section adapted to swingingly move said elevator section; control means for said power actuated lift means operable by the leaning of a load against said elevator section; and a pneumatic chamber provided in said hydraulic lift means and arranged so that pressure must build up in said pneumatic chamber before said hydraulic lift means begins to operate thereby providing a vtime delay between the operation ofthe control means and the start of movement of said elevator section.

5. In elevator and gravity conveyor means, a frame; a gravity roller type elevator section pivoted for swinging movement'from the upper portion of said frame and movable into a load discharging postion vin which it is slightly inclined relative to the horizontal; a gravity roller con- 5 twenty degrees relative to the vertical whereby a veyor section supported by said frame spaced relation from and substantial end to end alignment with said elevator section when said elevator section is in load discharging position; and a gravity roller type transfer section supported vvby said frame and bridging the space between said elevator section and said conveyor section.

6. In elevator means, an elevator section pivoted at its upper end portion for swinging movement; `a substantially perpendicular load supporting shelf projecting outwardly from the bottom end portion of said elevator section; and

. load receiving rocker members positioned along said elevator section; power operated lift means connected with said elevator section controlling .movement of said elevator section between a loading position inclined relative to the vertical enough to receive and support a leaning stack of boxes and a discharging position properly inclined relative to the horizontal to discharge boxes by gravity therefrom over the pivoted end portion thereof; control devices for said lift means, said control devices including a movable member carried by said elevator section adapted to be moved by pressure of boxes to render said lift means operative and movable upon release by said boxes to render said lift means inoperative; means adapted to arrest downward movement of said elevator section before said elevator section reaches a vertical position in its downward movement; and means adapted to arrest upward movement of said elevator section after said elevator section passes a horizontal position in its upward movement.

8. In elevator means for elevating and discharging a stack of boxes, a frame; a swingingly mounted elevator section having its upper end portion pivotally connected with said frame; load supporting rollers on said elevator section; hydraulic lift means connected with said elevator section controlling movement of said elevator section between a loading position inclined relative to the vertical enough to receive and support a leaning stack of boxes and a discharging position slightly inclined relative to the horizontal to discharge boxes by gravity therefrom over the pivoted end portion thereof; a valve controlling said hydraulic lift means; valve control means carried by said elevator section and operatively -connected with said valve, said valve control means being moved to actuate said hydraulic lift means by pressure of boxes against the same and being moved toV render said hydraulic lift means inoperative upon the discharge of said boxes; means adapted to arrest the downward movement of said elevator section before said elevator section reaches a vertical position; and means adapted to arrest the upward movement of said elevator section after said elevator section passes a horizontal position.

HAROLD D. COUCH.

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