US3536206A

US3536206A - Tipplers for turning over beer kegs and like containers

Info

Publication number: US3536206A
Application number: US795987A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maurice Ruddick
Original assignee: Burnett and Rolfe Ltd
Current assignee: Burnett and Rolfe Ltd
Priority date: 1968-02-16
Filing date: 1969-02-03
Publication date: 1970-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 1987-10-27
Also published as: FR2002026A7; BE728422A; DE1905776A1; DK119447B; GB1184964A; NL6902329A

Description

United States Patent [72) inventor Maurice Ruddlck Strood, Rochester, England [211 App]. No. 795,987 [22] Filed Feb. 3, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 27, 1970 [73] Assignee Burnett 8r Rolfe Limited Strood, Rochester, Kent, England a British Company [32] Priority Feb. 16, 1968 [33] Great Britain [31] 7,792/68 [54] TIPPLERS FOR TURNING OVER BEER KEGS AND LIKE CONTAINERS 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 214/1, 198/33 [51] Int. Cl. B653 7/00 [50] Field olSearch ..214/1(R),1, 1(R)7, 1(RA), 130; l98/33(R)4 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,390,853 9/1921 Worth .1 ..2I4/l(RA)UX 2,369,742 2/1945 Rlaiber et al. 2 l4/l(R)UX 2,723,792 11/1955 Wetzel 2|4/1(R)UX 3,306,472 2/1967 Blanz 2 14/1 (PZ)UX Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerFrank E. Werner Attorney-Holcombe, Wethen'll and Brisebois ABSTRACT: A tippler for turning over metal beer kegs or like containers has two platforms mounted one on each of two separate carriers which are pivotally mounted about a common axis so that one platform can rock from a lower horizontal position on one side of the tippler with its carrier extending upwards from it to a raised position with the carrier rocked just past a horizontal position and the other platform can rock from a lower horizontal position on the opposite side of the tippler with its carrier extending upwards from it to a raised position in which its carrier is able to receive a container from the carrier of the first platform when the first platform is in its raised position. Both the carriers and the platforms are rocked by pneumatic rams in such a way that initially both platforms are in their horizontal lower positions and then when a container has been moved onto the first platform at the intake side of the tippler, both platforms are raised and when the carrier of the first platform moves past a horizontal position the container moves off it and on to the other carrier and platform. After this both platforms are returned to their horizontal lower positions with the container on the second platform from which it is discharged at the same time as the first platform is ready to receive a further container.

Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet 1 Patented oat; 27, 1970 Sheet Z of 2 TIPPLERS FOR TURNING OVER BEER KEGS AND'LIKE CONTAINERS In the course of the mechanical handling of metal beer kegs or like containers it is commonly necessary to turn the containers over because, .for example, washing of the containers is commonly carried out with the containers inverted, that is with their bung holes or other openings lowermost and filling of the containers is subsequently carried out with the bung holes or other openings at the top.

One form of tippler for turning over such containers comprises a carrier which is mounted so that itcan pivot about a horizontal axis and has a platform at each end. A container to be turned over is moved into the tippler so that one end of the container rests on one platform when this platform is horizontal and at the bottom of the carrier, and the carrier is then rotated about its pivotal axis to bring the other platform into a horizontal position below the first platform. In doing this, the container is turned over so that it rests on its other end on the other platform and it is then moved out of the tippler.

Such tipplers, an example of which is described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,371 can be constructed quite simply, but they suffer from the disadvantage that when one container has been turned over, the carrier must be rotated back again to bring the first platform back into its initial horizontal position before a further container can be fed into the tippler. The return movement of the carrier cannot take place until the previous container is clear of the tippler and therefore the rate at which the tippler can handle containers is severely restricted.

More rapid operation can be achieved by a tippler in which two platforms project in opposite directions from each end of the carrier so that when the carrier is turned over so that a container on the platform on one side of the carrier is turned over onto the other platform on the same side of the carrier, a platform on the other side of the carrier is at the same time brought into a position to receive a further container. Upon the next rotation of the carrier, the original platform is brought back into its initial position as the previous container is turned over. With this form of tippler, however, it is necessary for the carrier to be mounted so that it can rotate round and round in the same direction in steps of 180 whereas with the simpler form of tippler with only two platforms, the carrier 4 can be arranged, as described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,371, to rock backwards and forwards through an angle of somewhat less than 180. The arrangement in which there are four platforms and the carrier is fully rotatable is very much more complex and more expensive than an arrangement in which the carrier only has to rock backwards and forwards.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a tippler in which the mechanism only has to rock platforms backwards and forwards and yet which is able to receive a container, turn it over and then return to a position in which a further container can be received before the preceding container is discharged from the tippler so that the tippler can handle containers at a high rate.

To this end, according to this invention, a tippler has two platforms mounted one on each of two separate carriers which are pivotally mounted so that one platform can rock from a lower horizontal position on one side of the tippler with its carrier extending upwards from it to a raised position with the carrier rocked just past a horizontal position and the other platform can rock from a lower horizontal position on the opposite side of the tippler with its carrier extending upwards from it to a raised position in which its carrier is able to receive a container from the carrier of the first platform when the first platform is in its raised position, the arrangement being that both carriers and platforms are rocked by driving mechanisms in such a way that initially both platforms are in their horizontal lower positions and then when a container has been moved onto the first platform at the intake side of the tippler, both platforms are raised and when the carrier of the first platform moves past a horizontal position the container moves off it and onto the other carrier and platform, after which both platforms are returned to their horizontal lower positions with the container on the second platform from which it is discharged at the same time as the first platform is ready to receive a further container.

It will be seen that with this arrangement the first platform returns to a position ready to receive a further container as the turning over of the container is completed by the second platform and the container is being discharged. The tippler can therefore operate with a very much more rapid cycle than was possible with the previous form of tippler with a single carrier which had to return to an initial position after the discharge of a container before the tippler was able to receive a further container.

Nevertheless in spite of this rapid operation, the two separate carriers only have to rock to-and-fro through angles of at the most a little more than a right angle and therefore the mechanisms for moving them'can be extremely simple.

Perfectly the included angle between each carrier and its platform is somewhat greater than a right angle, for example 1 10. Thus when the two platforms are horizontal the carriers extend upwards from then at angles of 70 to the horizontal. The carrier of the first platform, that is the platform at the intake side of the tippler preferably rocks into a position which is 20 past horizontal and it is thus necessary for the carrier to rock through an angle of The carrier of the other platform preferably rocks into a position in which it lies in the same plane as the carrier of the first platform so that the container is able to slide straight from one carrier to the other and the second carrier therefore only needs to rock into a position 20 less than horizontal. That is to say, the second carrier needs to rock through only 50.

Preferably both the carriers rock about a common central horizontal axis although they may be arranged to rock about parallel axes arranged closely side-by-side.

Both the carriers may be rocked by mechanisms driven by the same source of power, which is preferably a pneumatic or hydraulic ram, but these mechanisms are then somewhat complex and the exact relationships between the movements of the two carriers cannot be altered. Preferably therefore each carrier is rocked by a separate pneumatic or hydraulic ram which is directly connected between a stationary support and the carrier. The ram connected to the carrier of the first platform, that is the platform at the intake side of the tippler rocks this carrier upwards through 90 in the same time as the second ram rocks the other carrier upwards through 50. The ram which rocks the carrier of the first platform is preferably arranged so that it makes a quick return movement at a greater velocity than its upward movement. Thus the platform and carrier move upwards carrying a container quite slowly and then when the container has been moved onto the other carrier and platform, the first carrier and platform make a rapid return movement through 90 to return the platform to a horizontal position to receive a further container during the time that the second carrier and platform make a downward rocking movement through only 50 ready for the container which they carry to be discharged. 7

An example of a tippler in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the tippler with parts broken away to illustrate more detail;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the tippler in its initial operative position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tippler as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the tippler in a position during the tipping of a container; and,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the tippler in a more advanced position.

The tippler shown in FIG. 1 is incorporated into a mechanical handling system for containers such as metal beer kegs, the system having a continuously moving chain conveyor 1 for carrying containers to and from the tippler.

The tippler is mounted on a support 2 comprising two parallel rectangular frames 3 and 4' connected by cross members which are not shown. The support 2 stands on four legs 5, of

which twoare shown in FIG. 1. Fixed on-oppo site sides of the frames, 3 and 4 are :two upwardly extending stanchions 6 to the direction of travel of the conveyor 1. v

A channel member 8 is pivotally mounted on one side of the shaft 7 by'meansof two plates 9 and 10 which are welded to,

theoutsides of the channel member 8 andwhich carry bearing H bushes mounting them on the shaft 7.- Fixed to the free edges,

of the channel memberw8'an'd extending outwards and forwards are two

platelike arms

11 and 12. These arms together with the channel member8 forma carrier 13 for containers which are fedto the tippler by the conveyor 1. Welded to the. bottom of the channel member 8 are two

prongs

14 and 15 6 together defining a platform, l6 which extends at an angle of 110 from the channel member 8. In the rest position of the tippler the platform 16 lies horizontal and parallel to the tops of the frames 3 and 4. I

Pivotally mounted on the shaft 7 on the opposite side to the channel member 8 is a similar channel member 17. This member 17 is mounted on the shaft 7 by means of a pair of

lugs

18 and 19 which carry bearing bushings (not shown). The

channel member 17 together with

arms

20 and 21 forms a carrier 22 similar to the carrier 13. Also, welded to the bottom of the channel member 17 is a platform 23 formed by two

prongs

24 and 25 which extend at an angle of l 10 from the channel member 17. When the tippler is at rest, the platform 23 also 5 lies horizontal. v

A- horizontal table 26 is fixed between the stanchions, 6 and the frames 3 and 4 and carries brackets 27 and 28 on which, i

rier 13 returns to its initial positionempty and the carrier 22 returns to its initial position with the container which is thus turned through l80 As the platform 23 returns to its horizontal position, the container 40 resting on this platform engagesand depresses thelever 37 and thus actuates the switch 39; This indicates that the turn overoperation has been completed. The conveyor 1 then removes the container 40 from'the tipplerso that the tippler is then freeto turn over the succeeding container which by then has entered the carrier 13. To ensure that the tippler is not operatedagain until the container 40 is clear of the free end of the platform 23, the

rams

29 and 30 are prevented; from being actuated until a switch 41 is actuated by a trip lever 42 which is placed strategically in the path of the container 40.

Since the conveyor 1 is continuously moving, it is possible that a succeeding container 40 may be carried to the tippler while the platform 16 is in the position shown in FIG. 5, thus preventing the platform 16 from returning to its initial horizontal position. Therefore, in orderi to prevent this from happening a pair of circular arcuate members 43 (only one being shown in the drawing) extend downwards from the free ends of the prongs l4 and 15 of the first platform 16 around an are which is centered on the axis of the shaft 7. The free ends of the arcuate members 43 are braced by, struts 44 joining them to the junction of the prongs-l4 and 15 with the base of the channel member. 8. Thus, when a container moves onto the platform. 16, and the carrier 13 and platform 16 are pivoted about the shaft 7 the arcuate members 43 follow around the path of the free end of the platform 16 and project downwards into the path of succeeding. containers along the conveyor 1. Any further container thus comes up against the arcuate members 43 and is prevented, from being moved further towards the tippler. so that the conveyor 1 just slips under. it. When the container in the tippler has slid from the carrier 13 to the carrier 22, the platform: 16 and the carrier 13 ried by the prongs 24 and 25' of the platform 23. In therest position of the tippler, the piston rods of the

pneumatic rams

29 and 30 are fully retracted and the

platforms

16 and 23 are horizontal.

. 'A trip lever 34 is pivotally mounted about a rod 35 extending between the frames 3 and 4, and extends upwards between the prongs 14 and .15 of the platform 16 into the space I bounded by the carrier 13. When rocked backwards, this lever 34 actuates a switch 36which indicates that a container has entered the carrier 13. Similarly, a lever 37 which is pivotally mounted on a rod 38 extending between the frames 3 and 4 extends upwards between the

prongs

24 and 25 of the platform 23 into, the space bounded by the carrier 22. When rocked downwards, this lever 37 actuates a switch 39 to inso that their piston rods are extended to pivot the

carriers

13 and 22 about the shaft 7. The carrier 13 is pivoted in an anstart to rock back aboutthe shaft 7 to their rest positions and the arcuate members 43, because they extend around an arc As soonas the platform 16 reaches its horizontal position, the arcuate members 43 are free of the waiting container and the conveyor 1 at once moves this container forwards onto the platform 16. p p It has been found with this arrangement that a cycle time for receiving a container in the tippler, turning it over and the first pneumatic rams 29 and30 are then simultaneously actuated .ticlockwise direction, the platform 16 engaging 'the bottom of the container 40andlifting it with the carrier as it pivots (see,

direction. When the piston rods of the

rams

25 and 30 are fully extended, the carrier, 13 has pivoted through 90 so that it has moved 20 past the horizontal, and the carrier 22 has pivoted through 50 so that the channel members 8 and 17 of the carriersl3 and 22 respectively lie in the same plane, as shown in FIG. 5. In this position the .container 40 moves from the carrier 13 into the carrier 22land onto the platform 23. The piston rods of the rams 29and30 are then retracted so as to'return the

carriers

13 and 22 and their associated platforms .16 and 23 to their initial positions, the ram 29 being arranged so that the carrier 13 and platform 16 are returned at a greater velocity than that at which they are moved upwards. The carplatform turning ready to receive a further container, of as little as 7 seconds can be achieved.

lclaim: I

1. A tippler for turning over metal kegs and like containers, said tippler comprising a stationary support, first and second carriers, means pivotally mounting said=carriers on said support for turning movement about a common horizontal axis, first and second container platforms, means fixing said first and second platforms to said first and second carriers respecpositions to said horizontal positions, said first ram including quick return means and adapted to turn said first carrier in a direction to lower said first platform at a greater velocity than said first carrier is turned to raise said first platform from said lower position to said raised position, both said carriers and said platforms being turned by said rams in such'a way that initially both said platforms are in said lower horizontal positions and then when a container has been moved onto said first platform at one side of said tippler, both said platforms areraised and when said first carrier moves past ;a horizontal position said container moves therefrom onto said second carrier and said second platform, after which both said platforms are returned to said horizontal positions with said second container on said second platform at the other side of said tippler remote from said one side, said first carrier and said first platform being moved more quickly by said first ram under the control of said quick return means than said second carrier and said second platform whereby said first platform is ready to receive a further container at the same time as said container is ready for discharge from said second platform.

2. A tippler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said included angle is about 3. A tippler as claimed in claim 2, wherein said drive means is arranged to rock said first carrier into a position in which it is substantially 20 past horizontal when said first platform is in its raised position.

4. A tippler as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cir-'