Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G65/00—Loading or unloading

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus for filling a transport or storage rack of the type which has several receiving levels situated at predetermined distances one on top of another for the placement of one layer of packaged products or the like at a time, the filling apparatus comprising a grouping platform and lifting devices for raising and lowering the. grouping platform or respectively the rack vertically to predetermined positions, the grouping platform being equipped with a pushing device for pushing a package layer arranged on the platform to the respective receiving level in the transport rack.
• the apparatus according to the invention is intended primarily for filling shop_cart-racks, in which several layers of products of the same type are stored, for example milk cartons.
• a problem involved in filling these is that between the shelves there is a very small clearance in proportion to the height of the product, in which case the apparatus must function with great precisio in order that a layer of products can be fitted in place without the pushing member or the tops of the products hitting against the selves.
• the difficulties are increased by the fact that the positions of the shelves in different carts may vary somewhat, and in addition, the thin support pallet used for introducing a layer of packages reduces the space available.
• the supporting level of the package layer must be very precisely situated on the plane of the shelf in order that the transfer be smooth, and in addition, the pushing of the product into the shelf easily causes the shelf to collapse, since the shelves are normally of a collapsible type in order that carts take up less space when transported empty. This problem appears even if, for example, light cells are used in a manner known per se for stopping a lifting platform at precisely predetermined positions.
• the object of the present invention is to eliminate these problems listed above and to provide a filling apparatus which functions without disturbance even when the distances between the shelves or the positions of the shelf levels vary somewhat, ' and which at the same time prevents the collapsing of the shelves while packages are being pushed in. Furthermore, the object is to provide an apparatus which rectifies the position of the package "layer supporting level after a transfer device operating with a constant stroke length has brought the lifting platform to a position roughly corresponding to a certain shelf.
• the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the lifting devices for a grouping platform, or respectively a rack, are fitted to produce a rapid transfer, having a predetermined distance at each given time, the distance having been dimensioned in such a way that the grouping platform remains without fail above the receiving level and that at least the grouping platform supporting part which supports the package layer is equipped with a first set of power means to transfer the supporting part towards the receiving level in such a way that it can push in part beyond the edge of the receiving level, and with a second set of power means for producing an additional transfer in a vertical direction in such a way that with the aid of these power means the supporting part can be moved as far as the receiving level, the first and the second set of power means of the supporting part having been fitted to operate in the said order.
• the supporting part is fitted movably to the grouping platfor and the power means producing the additional movements are fitted between the grouping platform and the supportin part.
• That edge of the supporting part which comes over the receiving level is preferably thinned out so that there is formed for the packages as smooth a passage area as possible from the supporting part to the receiving level. If the said thinned-out edge overlaps the shelf a distance of about 10 cm, it effectively prevents the shelf from collapsing when a layer of packages is pushed in.
• Figure 1 depicts a schematic side view of a filling apparatus according to the invention and the cart, when the lifting platform is on its way downwards
• Figure 2 depicts also a side view of the same apparatus, .. the product supporting level being at the level of the shelf.
• reference numeral 1 indicates in general a cart rack, which is of the type used, for example, in shops for the transport and storage ' of milk products and so forth.
• the cart has cuccessively several shelves one on top of another, of which three, indicated by 2, 3 and 4, are shown in the figures.
• the cart is attached to the filling device, either raised or resting on the base, supported by wheels.
• the filling apparatus of which only part is depicted, comprises a grouping or lifting
• OMPI platform which is in general indicated by numeral 5.
• the lifting platform can, like an elevator, be transferred upwards and downwards along guides, the lifting movement being produced by pneumatic or hydraulic or electric power means.
• the grouping platform according to the figures has been thought ⁇ to be transferred by means of lifting chains and a principal cylinder in such a way that the cylinder strokelength corresponds to one interval between the shelves.
• the movements for the transfer of the grouping platform are depicted schematical by arrows a on the left in Figure 1. It is evident that, respectively, by the constant stroke length the cart 1 can be moved as is indicated by dotted arrows b in the figure on the right.
• a turning supporting plate 6 on top of which the milk cartons 10 have been placed and the back edge 14 of which has been articulated to a sliding sleeve 16.
• the front edge of the supporting plate 6 rests on the support wheels 9 in the lifting platform.
• the support wheels 9 are installed in turning arms 17-,. which are operated either each by a separate or by a mutual pneumatic cylinder 18.
• the sleeve 16 moves supported by a bar 7 in the lifting platform, and this movement is produced by a cylinder 8. Furthermore, there is in the lifting platform another cylinder 11, which by its long stroke produces the transfer of the cartons 10 into the shelf interval in question,' when the supporting level has first been set correctly.
• the cylinder 8 is started in order to transfer the supporting level 6 to the right between the shelves so that the front edge 15 of the supporting level pushes over .the level 2 over a distance of about 10 cm.
• the cylinder 18 is started in order to turn the arms 17 down and to lower the turning supporting level 6 on top of the shelf level 2.
• the stroke of the cylinder 18 is so long that, in spite of variation of the shelf levels the supporting wheels 9 always detach from the supporting plate.
• the supporting level 6 is now without fail in the correct position in .relation to the shelf 2, and the cartons 10 can be pushed between the shelves in the cart rack by means of the cylinder 11.
• the thinned-out front edge 15 of the supporting level 6 forms on the one hand a smooth passage to the shelf 2, and in addition, it prevents the shelf .from being collapsed by the friction force of. the cartons; The..shelves .2,...3.and .4. ormally have transverse articulations, which are not shown in the figures.
• a limit switch 12 which is situated in alignment with the front edge of the supporting level 6.
• the actuator 13 of the limit switch 12 can move, thereby activating the switch.
• the switch affects the pushing cylinder 11, its purpose being to prevent the operation of the cylinder 11 in a case of disturbance, i.e. if the supporting part 6 for some reason does not detach from the wheels 9.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8515399

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (4)

Citations (5)

• 1982
  • 1982-04-21 FI FI821398A patent/FI821398A0/fi not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1983
  • 1983-04-21 EP EP83901344A patent/EP0120018A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1983-04-21 WO PCT/FI1983/000031 patent/WO1983003813A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1983-12-21 DK DK590283A patent/DK150576C/da active
  • 1983-12-21 NO NO834744A patent/NO834744L/no unknown
• 1984
  • 1984-05-14 SU SU843739181A patent/SU1299494A3/ru active
  • 1984-05-18 FI FI842019A patent/FI72487C/fi not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (5)

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