GB1365731A - Mechanical handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1365731 Conveyers CHARCON PRODUCTS Ltd 5 June 1972 [5 March 1971] 6117/71 Heading B8A A pallet 11 carrying spaced slabs 12 is moved on a roller conveyer 6 towards a slab cradle 21 of a traversing carriage 17, the cradle serving to move the slabs into abutting relationship on a preceding pallet located beneath the cradle. The pallets are moved stepwise along the conveyer by a chain having dogs 10 and the carriage 17 is reciprocable along the length of the centre pallet by a pneumatic ram 15. Movement of the carriage causes the cradle 21 to pivot from the intermediate horizontal position shown to a vertical position at the ends of travel of the carriage. The cradle includes pneumatically actuated fingers 31 for gripping a slab. In operation, the carriage 17 having been moved to the left, the fingers 31 of the now vertical cradle 21 are engaged with the leading slab on the pallet 11 and the slab, by movement of the carriage to the right, is deposited in the shown (broken line) position. Momentary disengagement of the fingers 31 when the slab is horizontal allows the slab to be fully seated in the cradle 21. As the carriage is returned towards the pallet 11, the latter is indexed to bring the second slab into position, ready for engagement by the cradle 21. This slab having been placed in abutment with the first slab, the carriage and conveyer dogs 10 operate as before for the remaining slabs. Automatic actuation is controlled by limit switches 40, 41. In Figs. 4-7 (not shown) the traversing carriage (52) and support means co-operate to provide a small angle of inclination of the slabs. While the slabs are horizontal they may be inspected or subjected to water sprays and rotary brushes, the period during which the slabs are horizontal being extended accordingly. At the ends of its travel, the carriage may move more slowly than during the remainder of its movement.