CA1191167A - Pallet loading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The pallet loading apparatus wherein a carrying-in area for carrying in respective articles and a carrying-out area having a pallet placed thereon for loading the articles are disposed adjacent to each other, wherein a post is erected upright in the vicinity of those carrying-in and carrying-out areas wherein there is disposed on that post a lift which is elongated in a horizontal direc-tion along those carrying-in and carrying-out areas and which is enabled to move up and down on that post, wherein there is carried on the aforementioned lift a transverse trolley which is made movable in a horizontal direction between those carrying-in and carrying-out areas, and where-in a holding mechanism for holding the articles is suspended from the lower portion of that transverse trolley, so that the articles are transferred and loaded onto the pallet by holding a row of articles, which are carried in onto the carrying-in area, in the holding mechanism, by transferring the articles, which are held in the holding mechanism to the carrying-out area both by the ascend and descend of the lift and the horizontal movement of the transverse trolley, and by releasing the articles from the holding mechanism.

Description

The presenl invent:Lon relates to a pa~Llet :Loading appara-tus :eor :Loading articles on a predetermirled pa-ttern and in a piled marlner upon a palle-t.
A pallet loading appara-tus according to the prior art loads a pallet with articles by carrying in a predetermined number of articles for one layer and arranging them Oll an arranging table, by loading the articles for one layer from -the arranging table onto a carriage, by bringing the carriage to above a pallet and then retaining the articles for one layer on the carriage with the use o e a stopper, and then by retrac-t-ing the carriage thereby to al.low -the ar-ticLes for one layer to drop on-to the palle-t.
In the case oL the conventional pallet loading apparatus thus far described, however, since a l.arge load is exer-ted upon the carriage and its moving and supporting Utlit and since the articles are piled in multiple layers, theLe are required not only both a mechanism for moving up and down -the carriage and its moving and suppor-ting uni-t, which are highly loaded, and a mechanism for moving up and down the pallet loaded wi-th the articles but also a space for allowing the carriage to retract. As a result, the pallet loading appara-tus has its size enlarged as a whole.
The present invention has been conceived in view of the problems -thus far described and contemplates to provide a simplified type pallet loading appara-tus.
It is a first object of the present invention to simplify the construction and reduce the size of a pallet loading apparatus by loading a row Oe articles for one layer plural times, In order to achieve this object, the pallet loading apparatus according to the present inven-tion is cons-truc-ted

- 2 -~3~i'7 such that a carrying-in ~rca for carrying ln respective arti-cles and a carrying-out area having a pallet placed thereon for loading the articles are disposed adjacent to each other, such that a post is erected upright in the viclnity o~ those carrying in and carrying~out areas, such that there is disposed on that post a lift which is elongated in a horizontal direc-tion along those carrying-in and carrying-out areas and which is enabled to move up and down on that post, such that there is carried on the aiorementioned lift a transverse trolley which is made movable in a horizontal direction between those carrying in and carrying~out areas, and such that a holding mechanism for holding the articles is suspended from the lower portion of that transverse trolley. Thus, ~he pallet loading apparatus transfers and loads the articles onto the pallet by holding a row of articles, which are carried in onto the carrying .in area, in the holding mechanlsm, by transferring the articles, which are held in the holding mechanism to the carrying-out area both by the ascend and descend of the lift and the horizontal movement of the transverse trolley, and by releasing the articles from the holding mechanism.
In order to achieve the aforementioned object, moreover, the pallet loading apparatus having the constructions thus far described is constructed such that there is carried sn the transverse trolley a carriage which is made movable in such a horizontal direction as to intersect the moving directions of the transverse trolley, and such that the aforementioned hold-ing mechaDism is carried on that carriage, whereby a row of articles are divided and transferred plural times onto the carrying-out area.
In the aforementioned respective pallet loading apparatus, moreover, in addition to the advantage that box-~haped articles can be loaded by the use of the holding mechanism equipped with a pair o~ clamping members, the positioning operations of the box-shaped articles and the holding mechanism both at the carrying-in area is enabled to have their degrees of freedom relatively increased by driving both the paired clamplng members of the holding mechanism to move toward and away from each other so that the positioning operations can be facili-tated to ensure the clamping and holding operations o~ the box-shaped articles.
In the case o~ the aforementioned holding mechanism having both its paired ~lampingmembers driven, still moreover, the holding mechanism itself is enabled to have its construc-tion simplified and its size reduced by driving both the clamping members by means o~ a single cylinder.
In the aforementioned respective pallet loading apparatus, iurthermore, in addition to the advantage that the box-shaped articles can be loaded by the use of the holding mechanism having the paired clamping members, the gap between the box-shaped articles loaded on the pallet can be remarkably reducedby driving only one of the paired clamping members of the holding mechanism to move it toward and away from the other.
By equipping the aforementioned respective holding mechanisms having the paired clamping members with a support-ing member which is adapted to move to and from below the box-shaped articles, furthermore, the box-shaped ar~icles are clamped with a suitable force between the paired clamping members, and the box-shaped articles thus clamped betweell the clamping members are prevented exclusively by that support member from dropping down so that they can be prevented ~rom ~l being brolcen by the clarnpirlg Lorces o~' the c:Lamping merrlbers.
In the aforement:ionecl le.spec-tive palle-t loading apparatus, fur-thermore, bag-shaped articles can also be loaded by the use Oe a holding mechanism which is equipped with a pair of scoop-ing mermbers.
In the case of the aeorementioned pallet loading apparatus e~uipped wi-th the paired scooping members, the deformations of the bag-shaped articles and-theunbalance of the load are corrected, by disposing vertically movably a push member for pushing down a bag-shaped article between the paired scooping members, so -that the bag-shaped articles piled on the pallet can be prevented from dropping to pieces.
In the case of the aforement:ioned holding mecharlism equipped with -the push member be-tween the paired scooping members, moreover, the holding mechanism itself can have its construc-tion simplified and its size reduced by rnoving up and down the push member in mechanical response to the opening and closing opera-tions of the paired scooping mernbers.
In the aforementioned respec-tive pallet loading apparatus, still moreover, the box- or bag-shaped articles can be loaded on various patterns disposing -the holding mechanism, which is made operative to hold the box- or bag-shaped article, on either the transverse trolley or the carriage such that it can ro-tate in a horizontal plane.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descrip-tion -to be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig 1 is a -e ront elevation showing a first embodiment of the pallet loading appara-tus according to the present invention;

Fig, 2 is a top plan view of the same;
Fig, 3 i~ a side elevation of the same;
Fig, 4 is A top plan view showing a portion of the same;
Fig, 5 is a side elevation showing a portion o~ the same;
Figs, 6 to 8 are longitudinal sections showing the respective portions of the same;
Fig, 9 is a front ele~ation showing a second embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the same;
Fig, 11 is a side elevation of ~he same;
Fig, 12 is a top plan view showing the loading state of the same;
~ig. 13 is a front elevation showing a third embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus of the present inventlon, and particularly the holding mechanism o~ the same;
Fig, 1~ is a top plan view showing a fourth embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 15 iS a front elevation of the s~me;
~ig, lB is a top p-lan view o~ an essential portion of ~he same;
~ Figs, 17(A), 17(B) and 17(C) are explanatory views illu9-trating the operations of the holding mechanism of the same;
~ig. 18 is a front elevation showing a fifth embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus of the present invention, and particularly the holding mechanism of the same; and Fig. 19 is a side elevation showing the same holding mechanism, The present invention will now be specifically described in connect:lon with the embodiments thereo~ with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First o~ all, the ~ollowing description i~ ~irected to a plurality o~ embodiments for loading box-shaped articles, Re~erence numeral 1 appearing in Figs. 1 and 3 generally indicates a hori~ontal platform, at both sides o~ which there are disposed in an adjacent manner a carrying-in area 2 ~or carrying-in box-shaped articles B and a carrying-out area For carrying-out the articles B ~or their subsequent loading purpose. In the carrying-in area 2 located at the lefthand side, there is disposed the leading end portion of a carrying-in conveyor 4 ~or carrying-in the articles B, A pallet P is to be placed on the carrying-out area 3 located at the right-hand sicle. This carrying-in conveyor ~ is equipped, as shown in Figs, 1 and 2, with a number o~ rol'lers 6 which are juxta-posed to one another and borne between side frames 5 located at both the sides thereof and which are to be driven by a not-shown motor. Moreover, the carrying~in conveyor 4 is equipped with an arranging mechanism 7 at its leading end portion and with a turning mechanism 8 at its base end portion, The a-~orementioned arranging mechanism 7 ls constructed to include a ~ront stopper 9, which is mounted between the two side frames 5 of the aforementioned carrying-in conveyor 4, a side stoppar 10, which is mounted on the righthand side frame 5, and a pusher 11 which is mounted on the le~thand side frame 5 such that it is juxtaposed to that side stopper 10, That pusher 11 is adapted to be brought toward and away ~rom the side stopper 10 by the action of a not-shown air cylinder which is mounted in a cylinder cover 12.
On the other hand, the a~orementioned turning mechanism ~.~

8 is constructed -to .i.nc.Lude~ a turll stopper -L3 ~nd a tu:rn pusher 14 bo-th of which are mo~ tecl on the a:Eorementioned righthand side frame 5. Tlle -turn stopper 13 i.s rocked by a not-shown driving mechanism -to bring i.-ts leading end portion to and -from above the carrying-in conveyor 4, whereas the -turn pusher 14 is brought -to and from above the carrying-in conveyor 4 by the action o-f an air cylinder 15.
In the carrying-in conveyor 4 thus far described, there--fore, the box-shaped articles B are arranged row by row upon a predetermined piling pattern.
In case the one row o-L the piling pattern is composed of two articles in the longitudinal direction, the turning mechanism 8 is left inoperative so tha-t the two articles B, which are fed in the longitudinal direction and a-t an interval, are allowed to pass as -they are until they are stopped by -the front stopper 9 O:e the arranging mechanisrn 7. Then, the pusher 11 advances to bring -the two articles B into abu-t-ti.ng contact with -the side stopper 10. In case the one row o-f -the piling pattern is composed of three articles in the widthwise or transverse direction, the -turn s-topper 13 of the turning mechanism 8 is rocked clockwise, a.s viewed in Fig. 2, to bring its leading end portion to the righthand portion of the carrying-in conveyor 4. As a result, the three articles B, which are fed in -the longitudinal direction and at an interval, have their rear por-tions pushed, when they respectively abut agains-t the leading end portion of the -turn stopper 13, by the instant advance or retraction of the turn pusher 1~ so that they are turned about a right angle. Then, the articles B are conveyed at that state until they are stopped by the front stopper 9 of the arranging mechanism 7. Then, the i'7 pusher 11 moves forwarcl to bring the three articles B into abutment contact wi-th the side stopper 10.
Incidentally, i:e one row o~ two or th.ee articles B are ~ed to the carrying-in conveyor 4, the ~eed of the succeeding articles B is automatically interrupted. When the one row of articles B are carried away, the succeeding articles B are fed again.
Moreover, a pallet conveyor ~or conveying the pallet P
may be disposed at the carrylng-out area 3 sirnilarly to the aforementioned carrying-in conveyor 4.
In the vicinity of the carrying-in and carrying-out areas 2 and 3 thus far described, moreover, there is erected upright a stationary post 21 which is disposed at the back of the aforementioned platform 1. On that stationary post 21 at the side of ~he carrying-in and carryin~-out areas 2 and 3, ~.e., at the ~ront ~ide thereo~, there are vertically movably di~posed a lift 22 which is elongated in a hori~ontal direction along the carrying-in and carrying-out areas 2 and 31 i.e., in a transverse direction, As better seen from Figs. 4 and 5, more speci~ically, the aforementioned stationary post 21 is equipped at both its respective sides with vertical guide rails 23. On the rear portion of the aforementioned lift 22, on the other hand, there are rotatably borne through a pair of facing brackets 25 a plurali~y o~ rollers 2~ which are in engagement with the aforementioned guide rails 23.
On the upper end portion of the aforementioned stationary post 21, moreover, there is borne a sprocket 28 which is con-nected through a reduction mechanism 26 to a li~t motor 27.
A chain 29, which is made to run on that sprocket 28, has its '7 one end portion attached to the aforernen~j.oned li~t 22 an~ its other end portion attached to a balance weight 30 inside o~
the stationary post 21. As a result, the li~t 22 is moved up and down along the stationary post 21 by the drive o~ the lift motor 27, On the a~orementioned li~t at the slde oi the carrying-in and carrying-out ar2as 2 and 3, i.e., at the front side thereo~, moreover, there is disposed a transverse trolley 31 which has a generally C-shaped side view and which is made movable along the lift 22.
As better seen irom Figs, 4 and 5, more specifically, the aforementioned lift 22 is equipped on its upper and lower portions at both the sides ther00f with horizontal guide rails 32, On the upper and lower portions o~ the aiorementloned transverse trolley 31, there are borne a plurality o~ rollers 33 which are in engagement with the ~orementioned guide rails 32, Moreover, the a~orementioned ~i~t 22 is equipped at its froat portion with a rack 34 which extends in the longitudinal direction thereo~. On the a~orementioned transverse trolley 31, there is borne a pinion 35 which is in meshing engagement with that rack 34 and which is connected to a transverse motor 36 mounted on the upper portion of the transverse ~rolley 31.
Thus, this transverse trolley 31 is moved in a horizontal direction along the li~t 22 by the drive o~ the transverse motor 36.
On the ~ront portion of the aforementioned transverse trolley 31, moreover, there is carried a holding mechanism 41 ~or holding the articles B. This holding mechanism 41 is constructed, as better seen from Figs. 4 and 5, to include a '7 9UppOrt:Lllg :t'Y'allle 42, which is sllpported on -the -transverc;e -trolley 3:L, and ~ pair o~ p~late-shapecl clamping rrlembers 43 and 44 wh:ich are made o-f an elas-t:ic ma-ter:ia~L such as a rubber and which are disposed below the -Lront and rear por-tions Oe -the suppor-ting -frame 42, respectively.
In the embodimen-t being described, -the aforementioned supporting -frame 42 is supported ver-tically movably on -the aforementioned -transverse -trolley 31.
At bo-th sides of the front portion of the a-forementioned transverse trolley 31, more speci-fically, there are disposed, as better seen from Fig. 6, a pair o-f grooved guides 46 which are -formed with retaining portions 45 at their lower ends, On both sides of the front por-tion of the a-foremen-tioned supporting frame 42, moreover, there are respectively borne a pair of upper and lower rollers 47 which are in engagemen-t wi-th the a-foremen-tioned guides 46.
On the other hand, -the aforementioned supporting frame 42 of the embodimen-t under consideration is elastically supported on the aforemen-tioned -transverse -trolley 31 such that it is biased upward.
On the fron-t portion o-f the aforemen-tioned transverse trolley 31, more specifically, as bet-ter seen from Fig. 7, there is moun-ted a horizontal plate member 48 at which a pair of supporting rods 49 are anchored upright. On the rear portion of the aforementioned supporting frame 42, moreover, there is mounted a plate member 50 having holes 51, which are fitted on the aforementioned supporting rods 49. Still more-over, coil springs 52 are mounted on those supporting rods 49 and are sandwiched between -the two plate members 48 and 50.
In the embodiment being described, the aforementioned palrecl clamping members 43 ancl 'L'-I are bo-th rrlade movable back ancl fortil a.nd aclapted to he d:riven comrnonLy by a sinbrle cylinder Specifically, the fron-t clamping member 43 is moun-ted on the shorter side portion o~ a generally L-shaped arm 53, which has i-ts longer side por-tion so fi-t-ted in grooved guides 54 mounted on both sides o-f the -front por-tion of -the a-fore-men-tioned supporting frame 42 that it can move back and for-th.
On the other hand, the rear clamping member 44 is moun-ted on the lower end portion of a slightly shorter arm 55, which has its upper end por-tion fixed to a pivo-t pin 56 borne rota-tably in a horizontal direc-tion in -the rear lower portion of the supporting -frame 42, To the upper por-tion of the aforernentioned suppor-ting frame 42, on the o-ther hand, there is hinged an air cylinder 57 having a piston rod, to the leading end of which a drive arm 58 is hingedly connec-ted. To the in-termedia-te por-tlon of tha-t drive arm 58, as better seen from Fig. 8, there is attached a.n annular member 59 having a slot, in which a pin 61 fixed to -the base end portion of the aforementioned firs-t arm 53 -through a supporting member 60 is loosely fittecl -through a roller 62. Moreover, the drive arm 58 has its leading end portion secured to the pivot pin 56 to which the aforementioned second arm 55 is fixed. As a result, if -the aforementioned air cylinder 57 is actuated to protrude the piston rod, the drive arm 58 is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 5, abou-t the pivo-t pin 56 so that the arm 53 is re-tracted to the righ-t along the guides 54 whereas the arm 55 i5 rota-ted clockwise about the pivot pin 56, thereby to close the respective clamping members 43 and 4~. If the aforementioned air cylinder ~ 12 -;'7 57 :is returned to :ret:ract the p:Ls-ton rod, on the con-trary, the cl-rive arm 5~ is ro-tated counter-c'Lockwise, as viewe~ in Fig. 5, abou-t -the pivo-t pin 56 so thcl-t -the arm 53 is pro-truded -to the left along -the guides 54 whereas -the arm 55 is ro-ta-te~l counter-clockwise abou-t the pivo-t pin 56, thereby to open the respective clamping members 43 and 44.
On the other hand, the aforementionecl front arm 53 is constructed, as better seen from Figs. 4 and 5, to include a plurality oI plate members 63 and 64, which are jointed by means of screws 66 through a plurality of slots 65 formed in the respective plate membexs 63 and 64 so tha-t the length of that arm 53 can be adjus-ted to adjust -the size of or the gap between the respective clamping members 43 and 44.
The operations of the ernbodiment having -the construction -thus -far described will be describecL in -the following.
The ar-ticles B are fed to -the carrying-in conveyor 4 so -that two or three of them are arranged in a row at the lead:ing end portion of -the carrying-in conveyor 4.
Then, the lift motor 27 is energized to move down -the lift 22 along the stationary post 21 to a predetermined posi-tion by the coaction of the sprocket 28 and the chain 29 so that the respective clamping members 43 and 44 are brought to the front and back of the two or three articles B. After that, the air cyli.nder 57 is actuated to protrude its piston rod so that the respective clamping members 43 and 44 are closed to clamp the two or three articles B from the front and back -thereo-f.
Then, the lift motor 27 is energized to move up -the lie-t 22, and the -transverse motor 36 is energized to move the trans-verse trolley 31 righ-twardly of Figs, 1 and 2 along the lif-t 22 by -the coaction Or the pinion 35 and the :rack 3~ so tha-t the articles B held by the ho~Lding mechanism 41 are brougrht to above a predetermilled plling position o~ -the pallet P.
Then, -the lii`t motor 27 is energized -to move down -the lii-t 22 so that the articles B are placed on the pallet P, and the air cylinder 57 is ac-tuated to re-tract its piston rod so that -the respec-tive clamping members 43 and 44 are opened to release the articles B.
Here, when the articles B are placed on -the pallet P, the supporting -~rame ~2 of the holding mechanism 41 is so supported that i-t can move upward relative to the transverse trolley 31 and is also biased upward by -the action o-~ the springs 52. As a resul-t, the loads o~ the li~'t 22 and the transverse trolley 31 a:re no-t exerted between the ar-ticles B
and the pallet P, and the load oi the holding mechanism 4:L is reduced by the actions Or the springs 52 so tha-t the ar-tic'les B are prevented ~rom being broken~
Then, -the lii't motor 27 is energized to move up the liit 22, and the -transverse motor 36 is energized to move the -transverse trolley 31 leitwardly of Figs~ 1 and 2 so that the holding mechanism 41 is brought -to a position above the carrying-in conveyor 4, thus being prepared ior the operation~
thus iar described~
Moreover, these operations are repeated until the arti-cles B are piled in a predetermined layers on a predeterminedpiling pattern upon the pallet P~
As has been described hereinbei'ore, according to the embodiment under consideration, the holding mechanism 41 having the paired clamping members 43 and 44 is made movable in a vertical direction and in a transversely horizontal direction i'7 so that the box-shaped art:icles B can be p:Lled row by row on the p:il.ing pattern upon the pallet P As is diffeIent from the construct.ion according to the prior art, there are re-quired neither the arranging table for arranging the articles B for one layer nor the carriage for supporting and moving the articles B i'or one layer. Nor is required the mechanism for moving up and down the pallet P loaded with the articles B As a result, the pallet loading apparatus has its size so reduced that it can be easily installed on an existing -~actory or warehouse. Moreover, the loading apparatus has i-ts most portion supported by the stationary post 21 so that its installation is facilitated.
~ccording to this embodiment, moreover, since both paired clamping members 43 and 44 of the holding mechanism 41 are driven, there is little fear that the clamping members 43 and 44 at their closed sta-te abut against the articles B, while the holding mechanism 41 is moving down toward the articles B
lying on the carryin~-in conveyor 4, so that the articles B
as wel]. as the holding mechanism 41 can be easily positioned at the carrying-in area 2 while being surely held Moreover, both the clamping members 43 and 44 are completely synchronized, because they are driven commonly by the single air cylinder 57, ~nd the holding mechanism 41 itself can have its construction simpl.ified and its size reduced.
In the embodiment thus ~ar described, incidentally, the lift 22 is vertically movably supported at its center portion by the stationary post 21. However, the present invention should not be limited thereto but can be modi~ied such that the lift 22 is supported at its end portion by the stationary post 21.

~;

Figs. ~ to 12 show a second embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus according to the pre~ent invention.
Re~erence numeral 101 appearlng in Figs, 9 to 11 generally indica~es a horizontal platform, at both the sldes of which there are disposed adjacent to each other a carrying-ln area 102 for the box-shaped articles B and a carrying-out area 103 for loading the articles B, At the carrying-ln area 102 at the righthand side, there is disposed the leading end portion of a carrying-in conveyor 104 for separately conveying the articles ~, The pallet P is placed on tbe carrying-out area 103 at the le~thand side.
Moreover, the aforementioned carrying-in conveyor 104 is so constructed that a number of rollers 106 are juxtaposed to one another ~nd borne between two side frames 105. A pre-determined number, e.g " two articles B, which are dividedlongitudinally into two halves for one row, are successively conveyed, while being oriented in a predetermined direction~
by the action of the carrying-in conveyor 104 until they are stopped at the leading end poltion of the conveyor 104 by means of a not-shown stopper.
Incide~tally, a pallet conveyor for conveying the pallet P may be disposed at the carrying-out area 103 similarly to the carrying-in conveyor 104 described in the above.
In the vicinity of the aforementioned carrying-in and ~5 Garrying-out area~ 102 and 103, moreover, there is erected upright at the back of the aforementioned platform 101 a stationary post 111. On this stationary post 111 at the side of the carrying-in and carrying out ar~as 102 and 103, i.e., at the front side thereof, there is vertically movably dis-posed a lift 112 which is elongated in a horizontal direction along the carrying in and carrying-out units 10~ and 103, i.e,, in a trans~erse direction.
Speci~ically, the aforementioned stationary post 111 i5 ~quipped at its both sides with vertical guide rails 113.
On the rear portion of the aforementiorled lift 112, ~oreover, there are borne through a pair of brackets 115 a plurality of rollers 114, which are in engagement with the aforementioned guide rails 113. Still moreover, the liit 112 is moved up and down by means of a drive mechanism which is composed o~
a motor 116 mount~d on the upper end por~lon o~ the ~tation~ry po~t 111.
On the li~t 112 at the side of the carrying-in and carry-ing~out areas 102 and 103, i.e., at the ~ront side thereo~, on the other hand, there is disposed a transverse trolley 121 which is elongated in a horixontal direction to intersect the lift 112, i,e,, in a longitudinal direction and which is made movable in a horizontal direction between the carrying-irl and carrying~out areas 102 and 103.
Speci~ically, the aforementioned lift 112 is equipped at its upper and lower portions with transversely horizontal guide rails 122. On the rear end portion of the aforemention ed transverse trolley 121, moreover, there are borne through - a supporting frame 124 having a generally C-shaped side view a plurality of rollers 123, which are in engage~en~ with the aforementioned guide rails 122. Still moreover, the trans-verse trolley 121 is adapted to move in a horizontal direction by the action of a not-shown drive mechanism.
On the aforementioned transverse trolley 121, furthermore, there is carried in an enclosing manner a carriage 131 having a generally rectangular front view, which is made movable in ~i , i'7 a horizontal direction to intersect the moving direction of the transverse trolley 1~1.
Specifically, this transverse trolley 121 is equipped at its both side portions with longitudinally horizontal guide 5 rails 132, On both the side portions of the a~orementioned carriage 131, moreover, there are respectively borne a plu-rality of rollers 133, which are in engagement with the afore-mentioned guide rails 132, Still moreover, the carriage 131 is adapted to move in a horizontal direction by the action of a not-shown drive mechanism.
On the other hand, a holding mechanism 14] eOr holding the articles B is suspended from the lower portion of the aforementioned carriage 131, That holding mechanism 141 is constructed to include a supporting frame 142, which is sup-ported on the carriage 131, a first plate-shaped clamping member 143, which is mounted on that supporting ~rame 142 at the lower portion thereof at the le~thand side, i,e,, at the side o-~ the carrying-out area 103, a second plate-shaped clamping member 144, which is mounted on the supporting frame 142 at the lower portion thereo~ at the righthand side, i,e,, at the side o~ the carrying-in area 102 in a position opposite to the first clamping member 143, and a plurality of generally L-shaped supporting members 14S which are moun*ed on the righthand side lower portion and which are positioned outside of the aforementioned second clamping member 144, In the embodiment being described, the aforementioned supporting frame 142 is so suspended from the lower portion of the aforementioned carriage 131 through a shaft 134 as to rotate in a horizontal plane and is rotated by the action of a not-shown drive mechanism.

:tn this embodiment morcover the :r:l.r~st c:lampirlg merrll)(r 143 is fixed].y mounted on the le:etlland lower portion Or the aforementionecl suppor-ting frame 142.
On -the o-thel hand -the second clamping member 144 is adapted to move -toward and away -from the aforementioned -first clampi.ng member 143 so that i-t may clamp a predetermined number of articles B between itself and the firs-t clamping member 143.
Speci-fically that second clamping member 144 is attached -to the leading end portions o-f the piston rods of a pair of air cylinders 146 which in turn are attached to the lower end portions o-f mounting plates 147 a-ttached to the righthand lower por-tion of -the a-forementioned supporting frame 142, so that it can be brought -toward and away from the first clamping member 143 by actuating the air cylinders 146 to protrude and retract their p:is-ton rocls.
The aforementioned s-upporting members 145 are so con-structed -that horizontal supporting portions formed a-t -their lower ends can move frorn the outside of the second clampi.ng member 144 toward and away from the righthand lower portion or portions of the article B or articles B between the afore-mentioned first and second clamping members 143 and 144-thereby to prevent the art.icle B or articles B irom dropping down from between -the first and second clamping members 143 and 144.
Specifically, those supporting members 145 are secured at their base end portions to a single pivot pin 149, which is rotatably supported on the righthand upper portion of the aforementioned supporting frame 1~2 through a pair of bearings 150. To that pivot pin 149 there is secured one end of a drive lever 151, which has its other end hingedly connected to the leading end portion o~` the piston rod of an air cylinder :erom -the :e:Lrst c~Lamping memb(r l~-L3 the gap S be-tween the ar-ticles B Loaded ont:o the palle-t P can be restricte~ to the -thickness Oe -the :eirst clarnpirlg member :L43.
In -the second embodiment still moreover -the holding mechanism 141 is equipped w:ith the supporting members 1~5 which have -their suppor-ting portions 148 protruding from the ou-tside of the second clamping member 144 to below the arti-cles B between the first and second clamping members 143 and 144 thereby to prevent -the ar-ticles B from dropping down so tha-t it can hold the articles B without fail. Since the second clamping member 144 can have its clamping force weaken-ed fur-thermore the articles B are prevented from being broken.
When the articles B are to be released -the second clamping member 144 is enabled to func-tion as a s-topper by being re-tracted after the supporting members 145 have been ex-tracted from below the articles B so tha-t the ar-ticles B can be prevented rrom being positionally disp].aced. In addition since the first clamping member 143 does not require any elastic pad bu-t can be cons-tructed of a single pla-te the gap between the articles B can be remarkably reduced.
In the second embodiment furthermore since the support-ing frame 142 of the holding mechanism 141 can rota-te in the horizontal plane the articles B held thereby can have its direction changed. For example -the articles B can be loaded on the piling pattern shown in Fig. 12. In addition the ar-ticles B can be loaded on various pa-tterns in accordance with the shape o~ -the articles B.
In -the second embodiment incidentally -the first clamp-ing member 143 is fixedly mounted on the suppor-ting f:rame 142.
The present invention should no-t be limi-ted thereto but can be mocliLiecl such -tha-t the L:irst clamping melnber 143 is so di~s posecl -tha-t l-t can be re-trac-ted upward In thi.s modi-~ication, -the articles B can be pushed by moving down -the articles B
onto the palle-t P, by retracting the supporting members ].45, by re-tracting the second clamping member 144, by retracting upward the f`irst clamping member 143, and by protruding again the second clamping member 144. Thus, the gap S between the articles B can be eliminated.
In -this second embodirment, inciden-tally, the lift 112 is so supported at its center portion on the stationary post 111 that it can move up and down. However, the present invention should not be limi-ted there-to but can be modiLied such -tha-t the lift 112 is vertically movably suppor-ted at its end portion on -the stationary post 111.
lS Fig. 13 shows a third embodiment of the pallet load:ing apparatus according to the present inven-tion.
Here, this third embodiment basically has similar con-s-tructions and operations to those of the foregoing second embodiment, and accordingly -the following description will be limi-ted to the different por-tion, i.e., -the holding mechanism.
Reference numeral 241 appearing in Fig. 13 generally indicates the holding mechanism which may be suspended from the carriage 131, as is different from the holding mechanism 141 which is exemplified in the foregoing second embodiment.
~5 The holding mechanism 241 of this -third embodiment is constructed -to include a suppor-ting frame 242, which is supported on the carriage 131, a first plate-shaped clamping member 243, which is disposed at the lefthand lower portion of the supporting frame 242, a second plate-shaped clamping

3~ member 244, which is disposed at the righthand lower portion . z~, i'7 o~ tlle a~orementioned supporting frarne 2~2 in A manner -to Lace the ~lrs-t clamp:ing membel 243, and a pluraLity o~ general~ly L-shaped suppor-ting members 245 which are disposed outside of that seconcl clamping member 244.
The aforementioned suppor-ting frame 242 is so hinged to the lower portion of the afoIementioned carriage 131 through the shaft 134 in a similar manner to the second embodiment that it can freely rotate in a horizon-tal plane, and is rota-tionally driven by means of a not-shown drive mechanism.
The aforementioned first clamping member 243 is fixedly attached likewise the second embodimen-t to the lefthand lower portion of the aforementioned suppor-ting frame 242~
The aforemen-tioned second clamping member 244 is so cons-tructed likewise -the second embodimen-t that i-t can be protruded toward and retracted away from the aforemen-tioned firs-t clamping member 243 thereby -to clamp a predetermined number of ar-ticles B together with the firs-t clamping member 243, but is attached in a different manner. Specifically, -the aforementioned supporting frame 242 is equipped at both inner sides with a pair of horizontal guide rails 246, with which there are engaged a plurality of rollers 24~ borne on plate members 247. To the plate members 247 a-t both sides, there is attached the second clamping member 244 which has its upper end portion hinged to the leading end por-tion of the piston rod of an air cylinder 249 mounted on the aforemen-tioned supporting frame 242. By actuating the air cylinder 249 to pro-trude and retract its piston rod, the second clamping member 244 is guided by the rails 246 to move toward and away from the first clamping member 243.
In the third embodiment, incidentally, an elastic pad _ zz _ ~. L~L.~

250 is mOllll tecl on -the secc)rl(l c:Lamplng merrlbe:r 244.
The a~orementioned support:ing members 245 are corl.structed such -that supporting por-tions 25.1. at -their ~Lower ends can be pro-truded from -the outside of -the second clamping member 244 toward -the righ-thand lower portions of the ar-ticles B between the a~orementioned first and second clarnping members 243 and 244 and retracted away from those righ-thand lower portions of the articles B thereby to prevent the articles B between the first and second clamping members 243 ancl 244 from dropping down, but are attached in different posi-tions with different constructions. Specifically, those supporting members 245 are secured at their base end portions to a single pivot pin 252, which in turn is ro-tatably supported on the ou-tside upper portion of the aforementioned second clamping member 244 by means of a pair of bearings 253. 'I`o -tha-t pivo-t pin 252, there is secured one end of a drive lever 254, which has its other end hinged to the leading end portion o-f the pis-ton rod of an air cylinder 256 hinged to -the outsicle lower portion oi`
the aforernentioned second clamping member 244 through bracke-ts 255. Thus, by actuating the air cylinder 256 to pro-trude and retract its piston rod, the supporting members 245 are rocked about the pivot pin 252 thereby to protrude their supporting portions 251 from the outside of the second clamping member 244 toward the righthand lower portions of -the articles B
be-tween the aforemen-tioned first and second c:Lamping members 2~-~3 and 244 and to retract -the same por-tions 251 away -from the righthand lower portions of those articles B. Moreover, the supporting members 245 have their supporting portions 251 so hinged at 257 that they can freely rotate a predetermined angle.

_z~ ._ y3,~

Inciderlta~Lly, -the operat:ions ancl advan-t~ge.s oL the thi:rd ernbodiment are simi~lar -to -those o e -the -~orego:ing second ernbodi-ment, and accord:irlgly the :Lollowing description is limited -to -the advantages intrinsic to this third embodiment.
As has been described hereinbefore, according to -the third embodiment, since the supporting portions 251 of the supporting members 245 are made rotatable -the predetermined angle by means of the hinge 257, they slide on -the lower sides of the articles B while being held in their horizontal positions, when they are e~trac-ted from below the ar-ticles B, so that the articles B held by the holding mechanism 241 can be brought close to the pal].et P or the articles B o~ the underlying ]ayer, whereby their drop distance can be shor-tened and whereby the articles B Oe the underlying layer can be prevented from being broken by the leading ends of the sup-porting portions 251.
According to this third embodiment, moreover, since -the suppor-ting members 246, their driving air cyli.nder 256 and so on are at-tached to the second clamping member 244, the adjust-ment to cope with the change o e the size of the articles B
to be held can be done with remarkably ease in case it is changed. In the holding mechanism 141 according to the foregoing second embodimen-t, specieically, the size adjustment can be performed, in case it is small, exclusively by changing the attached posi-tion of the eirst clamping member 143, but both the at-tached posi-tions of the bearings 150 of the support-ing members 145 and the attached angle o~ the drive lever 151 have to be adjusted in addition to the attached position o e the first clamping member 143 in case the size adjustment is large. In the holding mechanism 241 according to this third ~2~ -3~

embodiment, on the contrary, it is su~icient to change the attached positio~ o:~ the ~irst clamping member 243 in all cases, The descriptions concerning the speci~ic embodiments o~
5 the pallet loading apparatus ~or loading the box-shaped arti-cles are ended. The practise o~ the pallet loading apparatus should not be limited to the ~oregoing ~irst to third embodi-ments, But, in both the cases o~ the apparatus of the ~irst embodiment for moving the holding mechanism in two directions, i.e,, in vertical and transverse directions and the apparatus oi the second embodiment ~or moving the holding mechanism in three directions, i.e., in vertical, transverse and longi-tudinal directions, one or plural arbitrary ~unctions can be combined to drive both the paired clamping members o~ that holding mechanism, to drive o~ly one oi the paired clamping members o~ the holding mechanism, to equip the holding mechanism with the supporting members, and to make the holding mechanism rotatable in a horizontal plane.
Next, a plurality of embodiments oi the present invention for loading bag-~haped articles will be described in the ~ollowing.
Figs. 14 to 17 show a ~ourth embodiment o~ the pallet loading apparatus according to the present invention.
ReEerence numeral 301 appearing in Figs. 14 and 15 indicates a horizontal platform, at the back (as is located at an upper portion of Fig. 14) o~ which there is disposed a carrying~in area 302 ~or bag-shaped articles B. Adjacent to this carrying-in area 302, there is disposed a carrying ou~ unit 303 ~or loading the articles B, which extends ~rom ~he plat~orm 301 to the ~ron~ (as is located at a lower por~ion - 2,S-`'7 .D 1~

of Fig, 14) of the plat~orm 301. A stand-by conveyor 304 is disposed at the carrying ln area 302, whereas a pallet table 305 is disposed in a horizontal posltion above the carrying-out area 303 through a plurality of legs 306.
Moreover, the a~orementioned st'an'd by conveyor 304 is so constructed that a pair of endless belts 308 above a frame 307 are made to run on not-shown front and rear pulleys there-by to convey the bag-shaped articles B ~ed irom the back until they are stopped at a predetermined position.
At the back of the afore~entioned stand~by conveyor 304, there i5 disposed in a continuous manner a carrying-in conveyor 309, above which a pair o~ guide members 310 are so arranged as to have their spacing narrowed ~orward. Thus, the articles B fed ~rom the bacls are conveyed onto the stand-by conveyor 304 such that their longitudinal direction is aligned with the conveying direction o~ th`e stand-by conveyor 304 by the coactions of the guide members 310, Incidentally, the pal'let table 30S may be replaced by a pallet conveyor which is disposed similarly to the afore-mentioned stand~by conveyor 304 at the carrying-out area 303 thereby to convey the pallet P.
In the vicinity of the aforementioned carrying-in and carrying-out areas 302 and 303, moreover, there is erected uprigh~ a stationary post 311 which is disposed at the righthand side of ~he aforementioned platform 301. On that stationary post 311 at the side of the carrying-in and carry-ing-out areas 302 and 303, i.e., at the lefthand side, there is vertically mounted a lift 312 which is elongated in a ,horizontal direction along the carrying-in and carrying-o-lt areas 302 and 303, i.e., in a horizontal direction, -- Z~e--çi~

Specl~ically, the aforementioned statlonary post 311 is equippe~ a~ its front and rear sldes, respectively, with vertical guide rails 313 At the righthand side portion o~
the aforementioned lift 312, there are borne through a pair of front and rear opposite supporting :Erames 315 a plurality of rollers 314, which are in engagement with the aforementioned guide rails 313, Moreover, the lift 312 is moved up and down by the action o~ a drive mechanism which is constructed to include a lift motor 316 mounted on the upper end of the stationary post 311.
On the aforementioned li~t 312 at the side oi the carry ing-ln and carrying-out areas 302 and 303, i.e., at the lefthand side, iurthermore, there is carried a transverse trolley 321 which is elongated in a direction to intersect the lift 312, i,e., in a transverse direction and which is made ~reely movable in a hori~ontal direction between the carrying-in and carrying-out areaS 302 and 303.
Speci~ically, the aiorementioned lift 31~ is equ pped at its upper and lower portlons, respectively, with longitudinal-ly horizontal guide rails 322, On the rigbthand end portionof the aforementioned transverse trolley 321, moreover, there are borne through a supporting ~rame 324 having a generally ~ C-shaped ~ront view a plurality o~ rollers 323, which are in engagement with the aforementioned plural rollers 323.
Still moreover, ~he transverse trolley 321 is driven to move in a horizontal direction by the action of a not-shown drive mechanism.
On the aforementioned transverse trolley 321, further-more, there is movably mounted a carriage 331 which is enabled to move in a horizontal direction to intersect the moving Z -~

~13~

di:nectlon Oe th~ -transve:ise trolley 32:1.
Speci:~ica.LLy, -the a:eorement:ioned -transver.se -trol:ley 32l is equippecl at i.ts front ancl rear side portions, respectively, wi-th -transversely horizon-tal guide rails 332. On the lront and rear side por-tions o-L the aforementioned carriage 331, respectively, there are borne a plurality of rollers 333, which are in engagenment with the a~orementioned guide rails 332. Moreover, the carriage 331 thus construc-ted is driven -to move in a horizontal direction by the action of a not-shown drive mechanism.
Furthermore, a holding mechanism 341 for holding -the ar-ticles B is suspended from -the lower por-tion o-E -the afore-mentioned carriage 331. This holding mechanlsm 341 is cons-t-ruc-ted, as is bet-ter seen :Erom Fig, 17, to include a suppor-ting frame 342, which is suspended -Erom the carriage 331, a pair of pla-te-shaped scooping members 343 generally having a shape o-~ letter "L", which are oppositely a-t-tached -to that supporting frame 342, and a rod-shaped push member 344 which is at-tached to the lower portion of the aforemen-tioned supporting frame 342 be-tween those paired scooping members 343.
In this fourth embodiment, the aforementioned supporting frame 342 is so suspended from the lower portion of the afore-mentioned carriage 331 that it can freely rotate in a hori-zontal plane, and is driven to rotate by the action o~ a not-shown drive mechanism.
The aforemen-tioned paired scooping members 343 are hinged to the aforementioned supporting frame 342 by means of pivot pins 345 and are adapted to be opened and closed by the action of a not-shown drive mechanism thereby to scoop and hold a bag-shaped article B with supporting portions 346 at their 7-8 ~

'7 leading ends.
The aforemellt:iolled p~lsh member 344 is .so a-t-tached -to the aLorement:ioned suppolting frame 342 -through a rod 3~7 -that i-t can freely move up and down, and is adap-ted to ascend and descend by tile ac-tion of a not-shown clrive mechanism.
Nex-t, -the operations of this fourth embodiment will be described in the following.
First of all, a vacant pallet P is placed on the pallet table 305.
By moving the lift 312, the transverse trvlley 321 and the carriage 331, in this meanwhile, the holding mechanism 341 is brought -to above the stand-by conveyor 304. Then, -the scooping members 343 of that holding mechanism 341 are prepared to be opened, and -the push member 344 is prepared to ascend.
Then, by ro-tating the holding mechanism 3~1, the direction.s of -the pivo-t pins 345 o-L the scooping members 343 are macle coin-cident with the conveying direction of -the stand-by conveyor 304.
After -that, the bag-shaped article B is carried onto the stand-by conveyor 304 by -the ac-tion of -the carrying in conveyor 309, and the longitudinal direc-tion o~ the article B is aligned with the conveying direction of the stand-by conveyor 304 by the coactions of the guide members 310. Then, the article B is stopped at a predetermined position above the s-tand-by conveyor 304, and the succeeding ar-ticles B is prevented from being carried onto the stand-by conveyor 304.
When the article B is stopped a-t the predetermined position of the stand-by conveyor 304, the lift 312 is moved down -to bring the paired scooping members 343 of the holding mechanism 341 to both sides of that article B. After that, ~ ~Cl -the scooping membeIs 3~3 are closed to :insert -~hei.r suppor~-ing portions to be:low the article B, ~ fter -the liE-t 312 is subseqwen-tly moved up, both the transverse -trol.ley 321 and -the carriage 331 are moved -to bring the holcling mechanism 34:L -to above a prede-teroined piling position on -the pallet P. Then, as shown in Fig. 17(A), the liEt 321 is moved down to position the ar-ticle B held on the holding mechanism 341 sligh-tly above -the predetermined piling position.
Next, as shown in Fig. 17(B), the push member 344 is protruded down and the scooping members 343 are opened, while pushing the cen-ter portion of -the articl.e B, until -this ar-ti-cle B is placed on the predetermined piling position, while being pushed by the push member 344, as shown in Fig. 17(C).
On the other hand, in case the direction of the article B to be stopped on the stand-by conveyor 304 is di-Eferen-t from the piling direc-tion o:E -the same on -the palle-t P, -the holding mechanism 3~1 is turned un-til the direction ol the article B comes into alignment with the piling direction, as shown in Fig. 16.
These operations are repeated so that -the articles B are piled on a predetermined piling pattern in a predetermined number of layers upon the palle-t P.
As has been desc-ribed hereinbefore, according to this i`ourth embodiment, since the holding mechanism 341 having the paired clamping members 343 is enabled to move in -the vertical direction, in the longi-tudinal direction and in the transverse direction, one or plural bag-shaped articles B can be sepa-rately loaded onto -the pallet P. As is different from the conventional pallet loading apparatus, -there are required 3~ '7 neither the arrallgirlg tab:le -Ior arrang:ing the ar-ticles of' one layer no-t the carriage for suppor-t:ing and carrying the articles B o-E one layer. Nor i.s required a rnechaniqm for ver-tically moving the palle-t 1~ loaded with the articles B.
As a result, the pal]et loading can have its sized so reduced -that it can be installed on -the existing iactory or warehouse without any dif:eicul-ty. Moreover, the loading appara-tus has i-ts most portion suppor-ted by the s-tationary post 311 so that its installation is facilitated.
According to this Eourth embodiment, moreover, since the holding mechanism 341 is equipped with the push member 34~, the deformations oE the articles B and the unbalance oE the loads when the bag-shaped articles B are to be trans~erred can be corrected so that the piled articles B can enjoy a sa-tis-Eactory appearance while being prevented Erom dropping to pieces.
According to the Eourth embodiment, Eur-thermore, since the holding mechanism 341 can be rotated in the horizontal plane, the ar-ticles B held thereby can have their direction Zo changed so that they can be piled on various piling patterns, Figs. 13 and 19 show a fiEth embodiment o-f the pallet loading apparatus according to thepresent invention.
Here, this fifth embodiment basically has similar con-structions and operations to those of the foregoing second ori'ourth embodiment, and accordingly the lfollowing description is restric-ted to the difierent portion, i.e., the holding mechanism.
Reference numeral 441 appearing in Figs. 18 and 19 generally indicates a holding mechanism which may be suspended Erom -the carriage 131 or 331, as is different from the holding ~ 3l-mechan:ism 141 or 341 exemp:l:ieied :i.n the foregoi.ng se~ond or ~our-th embodiment.
Th:is holding mechanism 441 is constructed to include a supporting :~rame 442, which is suspenclecl from the carriage 131 or 331, a pair of scooping members ~43, which are at-ta~hed to tha-t supporting erame 442 at both its lower s:ide portions, and a push member ~44 which is disposed below the aforementioned supporting frame 442 between those scooping members 443. This push member 444 and the aforen~entioned two scooping members 443 are connected by means of a later-described coacting mechanism 445 so tha-t the push member 444 is made to coact when -the scooping members 443 are driven.
The aforementioned suppor-ting frame 442 is so suspended irom the lower portion of the aforementioned carriage 13:1 or 331 by means O e a shaft 446 that i.t can freely rota-te in a horizonta:L plane, and is driven -to rotate by the action o e a not~shown drive mechanisrn.
Each Oe the scooping rnembers 443 at both sides is constructed to include a plate member 451 and a plurality Oe generally L-shaped supporting pawls 452 which are secured -to -the leading end portion O-e that plate member 451. Those scooping members 443 are enabled to be opened and closed by rotatably laying pivot pins 453 in the lower portions of the aforementioned supporting frame 442 at both sides, by securing a pair of rocker arms 454 to those pivot pins 453, and by attaching the base end portions of the aforemen-tioned plate members 451to the outer end portions of the paired rocker arms 454, Moreover, to the end portions of the pivot pins 453 at both sides, there are secured one-side end portions of drive arms 455 hav:ing -the:ir other end port:i.ons, to wh:i.ch there are hi.ngecl -the l.eading encl por-tions of the p:is-ton rods o:f a:i:r cylinders 456 hingecl to the fron-t and rear si.de por-ti.ons of -the aforemen-tioned suppor-ting frame 442. By synchronously actuating the front and rear air cylinders 456 to protrude and retract their piston rods, the pivot pins 453 at both sides are rotated to open and close the scooping mernbers 443 at both sides.
To the aforemen-tioned bo-th-side pivot pins 453, still moreover, there are secured respective arms 457 which are hingedly connected by means of a connecti.ng lever 453 so that the pivo-t pins 453 are enabled to rota-te in comp]ete synchro-nism with each other. As a result, -the scooping members 443 a-t bo-th sides are completely synchronized and can be driven, -too, by one of -the air cylinders 456.
rrhe aforemen-tioned push member 444 is cons-tructed such that round rods 461 a-t bo-th sides are connected by means Oe a pair of front and rear pla-te members 462. ~rom -the upper sides of both -the plate members 462 at -their centers, there are erected upright a pair of sliding rods 463, on which sleeves 464 are slidably fit-ted. Into the upper end portions of both the sliding rods 463, there are screwed a pair of nu-ts 465 which act as stoppers.
Moreover, coil springs 466 are sandwiched between the aeorementioned sleeves and plate members 464 and 462.
In this fifth embodiment, furthermore, the aforementioned push member 444 is so suspended directly frorn -the afore-mentioned coacting mechanism 445 that it can move up and down.
Specifically, that coacting mechanism 445 is constructed such tha-t retaining pins 471 are formed to project from the inner ~33-~'L~ i'7 end portlons of the rocker arms ~54 to which the aforemention ed both-side scooping memb~rs 443 are attached, and ~uch that engagement plates 473, which are formed at both end portions with slots 472 to engage with those pins 471, are secured to the sleeves ~64 which support the aforementioned push member 444 in a vertically movable manner. Thus, when the afore-mentioned both-side scooping members 443 are opened, the lnner end portions of the rocker arms 454 rock downward.
As a result, the engagement pins 471 push down the engagement 10 plates 473 while moving in the slots ~72 so that the sleeves 464 push down the plate members 462 of the push member 444 through the springs 466. When the scooping members 443 are closed, on th~ contrary, the inner end portions of the rocker arms 454 rock upward, As a result, the engagement pins 471 push up the engagement plates 473 while ~loving ln the slots 472 so that the sleeves 464 pull up the plate members 462 of the push member 44~ through the paired nuts 465 and the sli.ding rods 463.
Next, the operations of the fifth embodiment thus con-structed will be described in the following.
Upon the following description, incidentally, let it beassumed tha~ the holding mechanism 441 is suspended from the carriage 331 of the foregoing fourth embodiment.
The article B is stopped at a predetermined position above the stand-by conveyor 304 which isdisposed at the carrying-in area 302, Then, the lif~ 312 is moved down to a predetermined position along the stationary post 311, and the push member 444 of the holding mechanism 441 is brought into abutment contact with the center portion of the upper side of the ~ 3~ -'7 article B thereby to rearrange the article B, A~-ter that, the ~ir cylinders 456 are actuated to protrude their piston rods so that the both-s~de scooping members 4~3 are closed to scoop up and h~ld the article B and 90 that the push member 444 is moved up.
At this time, the push member 444 is brought by the suitable pressure o~ the springs 466 into abu~ment..contact with the article B so that the article B is prevented ~rom being broken, and is moved up in accordance with the closing opera*ions o~ the scooping members 443 so that the scooping and holding operations of the article B is not obstructed.
Next, the lift 312 is moved ~p, and the transverse trolley 321 is moved forward along the lift 31~, Xf neces-: sary, moreover, the carriage 331 i8 moved to the le~t along the transverse trolley 321, and the holding mechanism 441 is rotated, Thus, the article B held by the holding mechanism 441 is posi~ioned above a predetermined pillng position of the pallet P which is placed on the carrying-out area 303.
Next, the lift 312 is moved down to bring the article B
to slightly above the predetermined piling position on the pallet P, After that, the air cylinders 456 are actuated to retract their piston rods so that the scooping members 443 are opened to drop t~le article B, Next, the li~t 312 is moved down so that the push rnember 444 is brought to abut against the center portion of the upper side o~ the article B trans~erred thereby to rearrange the article B~
Since, by this time, the push member 444 has already been moved down by the opening operations of the scooping members 443 and positioned below the leading end portions of the generally L.-shaped supportlng pawls 452 o~ the scooping members 443, there is no fear that the supporting pawls 452 may contact with the article B which has been trans~erred to the adjacent position.
Next, the li~t 312 is moved up, and the transverse trolley 321 is moved backward. I~ necessary, moreover, the carriage 331 is moved to the right, and the holding mechanism 441 is rotated to a position above the stand~by conYeyor 304.
Moreover, the operations thus far described are succes~
sively per~ormed to transfer a predetermined nu~ber of articles B onto ~he Rredetermined piling positions on the pallet P. Those operations are repeated to pipe the articles B on a predetermined piling pattern in a predetermined layers upon the pallet P, In ~he operations thus iar described, incidentally, in case the article B is to be arranged on the pallet P oi the carrying~out area 303, the push member 444 can be brought $o abut agalnst the center portion of the upper slde of the article B without any descent o~ the li~t 312 by making suffi-ciently long the ascending and descending stro~e of the push member 444 in accordance with the opening and closing operations of the scooping members 443, As has been described hereinbefore, according to this fifth embodiment, since the push member 444 is moved up and down by the closing and opening operations of the scooping members 443, there is required no drive means for driving the push member 444, which protrudes upwardly Q~ the supporting ~rame 442. In case the holding mechanism 441 is suspended from the carriage 131 or 331, therefore, there is required no wide space inbetween, and the holding mechanism 441 itself :~ L~-3~ 7 ean be so attachecl easily a3 to ereely rotate in the hor:i-zoII-tal p~lane Sti`Ll moreover the holding mechanism ~1 can have its weigh-t redueed. Fur-the-rmore, the aseen-t ancl deseent of the push member ~ ean be simply eontrolled beeause they are synehronized in a meehanieal manner with the opening and elosing operations of the seooping members by means of the eoacting meehanism 4~5.
The deseription O-e the specific embodiments exemplifying the pallet loading apparatus for loading the bag-shaped ar-ticles is ended. IIowever, the practice of this loading apparatus should not be limi-ted to the foregoing two fourth and fifth embodiments, but the present inven-tion can be practised not only by the eonstruction, in whieh the holding mechanism is moved in -three direetions, i.e., in the vert:ical, horizontal ancd transverse direetions but also by a construc-tion, in which -the holding mechanism is moved in a ver-tical direction and in one horizontal direc-tion. In -the lat-ter ease, the articles are held row by row.

- 3~-

Claims (12)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property of privilege is claimed, are defined as follows:

1. A pallet loading apparatus comprising:
a post erected upright in the vicinity of carrying-in and carrying-out areas which are disposed adjacent to each other; a lift elongated in a horizontal direction along said carrying-in and carrying-out areas and so disposed that it can move up and down along said post;
a transverse trolley so disposed that it can move in a horizontal direction along said lift between said carrying-in and carrying-out areas; and a holding mechanism suspended from said transverse trolley and having a pair of clamping members for clamping together an article from both sides of the same.

2. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pair of clamping members of said holding mechanism both are driven to move toward and away from each other.

3. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said pair of clamping members of said holding mechanism is driven to move toward and away from the other.

4. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holding mechanism further includes supporting member adapted to move to and from below the article, which is clamped between said paired clamping members, for supporting the article between .

said clamping members from the lower side of the same.

5. A pallet loading apparatus comprising:
a post erected upright in the vicinity of carrying-in and carrying-out areas which are disposed adjacent to each other; a lift elongated in a horizontal direction along said carrying-in and carrying-out areas and so disposed that it can move up and down along said post;
a transverse trolley elongated in such a horizontal direction as to intersect said lift and so disposed that it can move in a horizontal direction along said lift between said carrying-in and carrying-out areas; a carriage so disposed that it can move in such a horizontal direction along said transverse trolley as to intersect the moving direction of said transverse trolley; and a holding mechanism suspended from the lower portion of said carriage, and having a pair of clamping members for clamping together a box-shaped article from both the sides of the same.

6. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein one of said pair of clamping members of said holding mechanism is driven to move and away from the other.

7. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said holding mechanism further includes a supporting member adapted to move to and from below the article, which is clamped between said paired clamping members, from supporting the article between said clamping members from the lower side of the same.

8. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said holding mechanism is so suspended from said carriage that it can rotate in a horizontal plane.

9. A pallet loading apparatus comprising:
a post erected upright in the vicinity of carrying-in and carrying-out areas which are disposed adjacent to each other; a lift elongated in a horizontal direction along said carrying-in and carrying out areas and so disposed that it can move up and down along said post;
a transverse trolley elongated in such a horizontal direction as to intersect said lift and so disposed that it can move in a horizontal direction along said lift between said carrying-in and carrying-out areas; a carriage so disposed that it can move in such a horizontal direction along said transverse trolley as to intersect the moving direction of said transverse trolley; and a holding mechanism suspended from the lower portion of said carriage, and having a pair of clamping members for clamping together a bag-shaped article from both the sides of the same.

10. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said holding mechanism further includes a push member made movable up and down between said paired scooping members.

11. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the push member of said holding mechanism is moved up and down in mechanical response to the closing and opening operations of said scooping members .

12. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said holding mechanism is so suspended from said carriage that it can rotate in a horizontal plane.