GB1568273A - Method and apparatus for transferring loads from a pallet - Google Patents

Description

(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LOADS FROM A PALLET (71) We, Société à responsabilité Limitée, ALLARD S.A.R.L., a body corporate organised and existing under the laws of France, of Avenue Gallieni, 19106 Brive-la-Gaillarde, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for transferring loads from a pallet carried on a wheeled transporter to a conveyor, such as a roller, belt, chain or like conveyor, or a surface on which they are to be directly supported, without the pallet which initially supported them.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided a method of transferring loads from a pallet carried on a wheeled transporter to a conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, comprising sllding a plurality of bars below the loads carried on the pallet in the spaces formed between spaced apart strips or battons which form the load carrying platform portion of the pallet, the length of each of said bars being such that they project laterally from each side of the pallet, moving the transporter between two spaced apart parallel conveyor means in alignment with the conveyor or surface onto which the loads are to be supported, said two conveyor means having at least their discharge ends at the same height as the receiving end of the conveyor surface on to which the loads are to be supported and spaced therefrom, engaging the bars with the two conveyor means so that the loads are supported on the two conveyor means solely by the bars, moving the loads by means of said two conveyor means across said space onto the conveyor or surface so that they are supported directly thereon and removing each of the bars from beneath the loads at the discharge ends of the two conveyor means by allowing the bars to pass through said space.

According to the present invention in another aspect there is provided apparatus for transferring loads from a pallet to a conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, comprising said conveyor or surface and two spaced apart parallel conveyor means arranged in alignment with said conveyor or surface onto which the loads are to be supported, said two conveyor means having at least their discharge ends at the same height as the receiving end of the conveyor or surface on which the loads are to be supported and spaced therefrom, a wheeled transporter for supporting a pallet with loads thereon, said transporter and pallet being movable between said two spaced apart conveyor means, and a plurality of bars which prior to the transporter and pallet being moved between the two conveyors means are slid below the load carried on the pallet in spaces formed between spaced apart strips or battons which form the load carrying platform portion of the pallet, the length of each of said bars being such that they project laterally from each side of the pallet so that when the transporter and pallet are being or have been moved between said two conveyor means they can be engaged with the two conveyor means so that the loads are supported on the two conveyor means solely by the bars and moved by the conveyor means onto the conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, the spacing between the discharge ends of the two conveyor means and the receiving end of the conveyor or surface on which the loads are to be supported being sufficiently narrow to permit the loads to be transferred from the two conveyor means onto the conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported but of a width sufficient to permit the bars to pass therethrough and be discharged.

According to a feature of the embodiment, the conveyor means are longitudinally spaced from the conveyor or surface onto which the loads are to be supported, so as to leave a sufficiently wide gap for the bars to pass through when they arrive at the end of the two conveyor means, so that the bars can then fall into a magazine or the like provided for that purpose, the gap however being sufficiently narrow not to impede the movement of the load from the conveyor means to the conveyor or surface The two conveyor means may be at a constant height and the transporter carriage may be capable of being lowered. It is clear that the opposite would be possible, i.e. the wheeled transporter can be of a constant height while the conveyor means could be so arranged that they can be raised and lowered.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of two conveyor devices which can be used in the transfer system according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the conveyor devices shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a transverse section of the conveyor devices shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side elevation of a conventional wheeled transporter, Figure 5 is an end view of the wheeled transporter shown in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a side elevation of a wheeled transporter similar to that of Figures 4 and 5 but provided with bars in accordance with the present invention, Figure 7 is an end view of the wheeled transporter shown in Figure 6, Figure 8 is an overall diagrammatic side view of the transfer system according to the present invention, before the transfer phase, Figure 9 is a side view of the transfer system in the course of a first phase of the transfer operation, Figure 10 is a transverse view of the system shown in Figure 9, Figure 11 is a side view of the system, during a second phase of the transfer operation, Figure 12 is a transverse view of the system shown in Figure 11, and Figure 13 is a side view of the system, at the end of the transfer operation.

Referring firstly to Figure 8, the system for transferring loads 1 from a - wheeled transporter 2 on which they are carried on a pallet 3 to a roller conveyor 4 essentially comprises two spaced apart parallel conveyor means 5 which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roller conveyor 4.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the two conveyor means 5 each comprise a narrow-belt conveyor carried by an L-shaned support structure 6 which is fixed to the ground, and driven by a drive motor and transmission means (not shown).

The distance between the two conveyor means 5 is such as to permit the passage therebetween of the wheeled transporter 2 with loads 1 and its pallet 3 (Figure 10).

The conveyor means 5 are each arranged to cooperate with bars 7 which are slid into the transverse gaps between the strips 8 which, in conventional manner, from the platform portion of the pallet 3.

The length of the bars 7 is such that their end regions 9 project from the pallet 3 on respective sides thereof, and, when the wheeled transporter 2 is moved between the two conveyor means 5 (Figures 9 and 10), the end regions 9 are disposed above the conveyor belts of the conveyor means 5.

The wheeled transporter 2 comprises a lifting means, for example a hydraulic lifting means, which provides therefor a raised position corresponding to the load-transporting position, and a lowered position in which it rests on legs I1 and is accordingly immobilised.

Thus, to transfer loads 1 from the wheeled transporter 2 onto the roller conveyor 4, the bars 7 are first fitted into the transverse gaps between the strips 8, so that they project equally from each sideof the pallet 3. The wheeled transporter 2 is then moved between the two conveyor means 5 (Figures 9 and 10) and then the transporter 2 is moved to the lowered position (Figures 11 and 12).

In this position the loads 1- are no longer supported on the pallet 3 but are supported by the bars 7 which then rest, at each of their ends 9, on the two conveyor means 5.

Thereafter, the loads 1 are moved, with the bars 7 which support them, towards the roller conveyor 4 by the conveyor means 5.

The space 12 left free between the two conveyor means 5 and the conveyor 4 is sufficiently narrow to permit the loads 1 to be transferred from the conveyor means 5 to the roller conveyor 4 (Figure 13). However, the gap 12 is sufficiently wide to permit the bars 7 to to pass therethrough, whereby the bars 7 fall to the ground as they reach the end of the conveyor means 5. Once the bars 7 have fallen into the gap 12, the bars 7 can be removed and re-used for a fresh loadtransfer operation.

It should be noted that, during the transfer operation, the pallet 3 remains on the platform portion or the fork of the wheeled transporter 2, and can therefore be removed, with the transporter 2, at the end of the transfer operation. For this purpose, the transporter -2 is moved into the raised position so that it is then only resting on its wheels, and is rolled rearwardly until it is out of the transfer region.

To avoid using a wheeled transporter provided with a lifting means, it would be possible for the conveyor means 5 to be slightly inclined relative to the horizontal so that the front ends thereof are slightly higher than the height of the bars 7, and the rearward ends of the conveyor means 5 are slightly lower than the height of the bars 7. Then, to transfer the loads, it is sufficient to move the carriage between the two conveyor means 5 until the first bar 7 (the bar which is most forward on the transporter 2) comes to bear on the conveyor belt of the two conveyor means 5. This bar is then entrained and gradually lifted, causing the transporter 2 to move forwardly.During this forward movement, all the bars. 7 will be raised and entrained so that at the end of the movement of the carriage (when the last bar has been lifted), the carriage will be completely freed from its load which will then finsh by being transferred onto the roller conveyor 4.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of transferring loads from a pallet carried on a wheeled transporter to a conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, comprising sliding a plurality of bars below the loads carried on the pallet in the spaces formed between spaced apart strips or battons which form the load carrying platform portion of the pallet, the length of each of said bars being such that they project laterally from each side of the pallet, moving the transporter between two spaced apart parallel conveyor means in alignment with the conveyor or surface onto which the loads are to be supported, said two conveyor means having at least their discharge ends at the same height as the receiving end of the conveyor surface on to which the loads are to be supported and spaced therefrom, engaging the bars with the two conveyor means so that the loads are supported on the two conveyor means solely by the bars, moving the loads by means of said two conveyor means across said space onto the conveyor or surface so that they are supported directly thereon and removing each of the bars from beneath the loads at the discharge ends of the two conveyor means by allowing the bars to pass through said space.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which the bars are engaged with the two conveyor means by lowering the loaded pallet carried on the transporter to thus lower the bars.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, in which the bars are engaged with the two conveyor means by raising the two conveyor means.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, in which the two conveyor means are inclined so that the bars engage therewith as the transporter is moved between them.

5. A method of transferring loads from a pallet carried on a wheeled transporter to a conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures I to 3 and 6 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

6. Apparatus for transferring loads from a pallet to a conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, comprising said conveyor or surface and two spaced apart parallel conveyor means arranged in alignment with said conveyor or surface onto which the loads are to be supported, said two conveyor means having at least their discharge ends of the same height as the receiving end of the conveyor or surface on which the loads are to be supported and spaced therefrom, a wheeled transporter for supporting a pallet with loads thereon, said transporter and pallet being movable between said two spaced apart conveyor means, and a plurality of bars which prior to the transporter and pallet being moved between the two conveyors means are slid below the load carried on the pallet in spaces formed between spaced apart strips or battons which form the load carrying platform portion of the pallet, the length of each of said bars being such that they project laterally from each side of the pallet so that when the transporter and pallet are being or have been moved between said two conveyor means they can be engaged with the two conveyor means so that the loads are supported on the two conveyor meanssolely by the bars and moved by the conveyor means onto the conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, the spacing between the discharge ends of the two conveyor means and the receiving end of the conveyor or surface on which the loads are to be supported being sufficiently narrow to permit the loads to be transferred from the two conveyor means onto the conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported but of a width sufficient to permit the bars to pass therethrough and be discharged.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the wheeled transporter includes means for raising and lowering the pallet, which provides therefor a raised position corresponding to the load-transporting position, and a lowered position in which it rests on legs.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which said two conveyor means are provided with means for raising and lowering same.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which said two conveyor means are inclined relative to the horizontal.

10. Apparatus for transferring loads from a pallet carried on a wheeled transporter to

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the carriage between the two conveyor means 5 until the first bar 7 (the bar which is most forward on the transporter 2) comes to bear on the conveyor belt of the two conveyor means 5. This bar is then entrained and gradually lifted, causing the transporter 2 to move forwardly. During this forward movement, all the bars. 7 will be raised and entrained so that at the end of the movement of the carriage (when the last bar has been lifted), the carriage will be completely freed from its load which will then finsh by being transferred onto the roller conveyor 4. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of transferring loads from a pallet carried on a wheeled transporter to a conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, comprising sliding a plurality of bars below the loads carried on the pallet in the spaces formed between spaced apart strips or battons which form the load carrying platform portion of the pallet, the length of each of said bars being such that they project laterally from each side of the pallet, moving the transporter between two spaced apart parallel conveyor means in alignment with the conveyor or surface onto which the loads are to be supported, said two conveyor means having at least their discharge ends at the same height as the receiving end of the conveyor surface on to which the loads are to be supported and spaced therefrom, engaging the bars with the two conveyor means so that the loads are supported on the two conveyor means solely by the bars, moving the loads by means of said two conveyor means across said space onto the conveyor or surface so that they are supported directly thereon and removing each of the bars from beneath the loads at the discharge ends of the two conveyor means by allowing the bars to pass through said space.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which the bars are engaged with the two conveyor means by lowering the loaded pallet carried on the transporter to thus lower the bars.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, in which the bars are engaged with the two conveyor means by raising the two conveyor means.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, in which the two conveyor means are inclined so that the bars engage therewith as the transporter is moved between them.

5. A method of transferring loads from a pallet carried on a wheeled transporter to a conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures I to 3 and 6 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

6. Apparatus for transferring loads from a pallet to a conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, comprising said conveyor or surface and two spaced apart parallel conveyor means arranged in alignment with said conveyor or surface onto which the loads are to be supported, said two conveyor means having at least their discharge ends of the same height as the receiving end of the conveyor or surface on which the loads are to be supported and spaced therefrom, a wheeled transporter for supporting a pallet with loads thereon, said transporter and pallet being movable between said two spaced apart conveyor means, and a plurality of bars which prior to the transporter and pallet being moved between the two conveyors means are slid below the load carried on the pallet in spaces formed between spaced apart strips or battons which form the load carrying platform portion of the pallet, the length of each of said bars being such that they project laterally from each side of the pallet so that when the transporter and pallet are being or have been moved between said two conveyor means they can be engaged with the two conveyor means so that the loads are supported on the two conveyor meanssolely by the bars and moved by the conveyor means onto the conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, the spacing between the discharge ends of the two conveyor means and the receiving end of the conveyor or surface on which the loads are to be supported being sufficiently narrow to permit the loads to be transferred from the two conveyor means onto the conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported but of a width sufficient to permit the bars to pass therethrough and be discharged.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the wheeled transporter includes means for raising and lowering the pallet, which provides therefor a raised position corresponding to the load-transporting position, and a lowered position in which it rests on legs.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which said two conveyor means are provided with means for raising and lowering same.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which said two conveyor means are inclined relative to the horizontal.

10. Apparatus for transferring loads from a pallet carried on a wheeled transporter to

a conveyor or surface on which they are to be directly supported, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and 6 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.