GB2040852A - Apparatus for inverting loads - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for inverting selected ones of a series of loads fed sequentially to the apparatus comprises a conveyor 14 on which the loads, such as kegs 30,32,34, are carried through first and second turning stations 10 and 12. At each turning station is a turning mechanism having three pairs of arms 20,22,24 or 20',22',24' (only one arm of each pair being shown in Figures 1a-1e). The arms 20,22,24 and 20',22', 24' are integrally formed at T-shaped members which are rotatable about a horizontal axis by means of a suitable drive motor. In one position of the arms (Figures 1a, 1e) loads can pass freely along the conveyor. In a second position (Figure 1b) the turning mechanism at the first turning station can receive a load in the right angle between two pairs of arms 20,22 and rotate it through 90 DEG (Figure 1c). The load is then received by the turning mechanism 18' at the second turning station and rotated through a further 90 DEG (Figure 1d). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for inverting loads This invention relates to apparatus for inverting loads such as kegs, casks or drums.

In mechanical handling of such loads it is sometimes necessary to invert them, for example to get them into the correct orientation for stacking onto pallets. A series of loads fed to such an inverting apparatus on a conveyor often consists of some loads which are already in the correct orientation and others which need to be inverted. With inverting apparatus know hitherto it has been necessary to provide means for diverting the correctly orientated loads from the conveyor before they reach the inverting apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus which can invert selected ones of a series of loads fed to it whilst allowing others to pass without being inverted.

This invention consists in apparatus for inverting selected ones of a series of loads fed sequentially to the apparatus, comprising conveyor means for conveying loads through first and second turning stations of the apparatus, and first and second turning mechanisms positioned respectively at the first and second turning stations, each turning mechanism having a set of arms and means for rotating the arms about a horizontal axis transverse to the conveyor means between a first position in which loads can pass unimpeded through the turning station, a second position in which the set of arms can engage a load on the conveyor means and a third position 90 from the second position, the set of arms being adapted to support the load and rotate it through 90" as the arms move from the second to the third position, the second turing mechanism being arranged to receive each load turned through 90 by the first turning mechanism and to rotate it through a further 90".

Preferably, the sets of arms of each turning mechanism comprises at least two pairs of arms arranged at right angles to one another and to the axis of rotation of the arms, all the arms being located below the supporting surface of the conveyor means in the first position, one pair of arms extending vertically upwards above the supporing surface conveyor means and the other pair being horizontal below the said surface in the second position, so that a load can be received in the angle between the arms, and the latter pair of arms extending vertically upwards in the third position of the arms.

Since in the first position of the arms loads can pass unimpeded through the turning stations, the apparatus can invert selected ones of the loads whilst allowing loads which are already correctly orientated to pass through the apparatus without being inverted.

The invention will now be described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 a to le illustrate diagrammatically the arrangement and sequence of operations of appar atus in accordance with the invention for selectively inverting kegs, Figure 2 is a side elevation of one turning section of the apparatus, Figure 3 is and end elevation of the turning section of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a plan view of the turning section of Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 1 a to 1 e, the apparatus comprises two turning sections 10 and 12, a horizontal driven chain conveyor 14 extending through both sections, and an escapement 16 on the infeed side of section 10. Each turning section 10, 12 has a revolving arm mechanism 18 consisting of three pairs of arms 20, 22 and 24 fixed at right angles to one another in a T-shape, each pair of arms being arranged so that it can engage and support a keg, as described below. Each mechanism 18 is rotatable about a horizontal axis 26.

In operation, kegs are fed in sequence to the apparatus on conveyor 14. A sensing device positioned before the escapement 16 senses the orientation of each keg approaching the apparatus to determine whether the keg is to be inverted by the apparatus. The sensing device may for example be a lamp and photoelectric cell device positioned to sense whether the neck of each keg is at the bottom of the kegs it moves along the conveyor. In the example illustrated in Figures 1 a to 1 e the kegs are to be discharged from the apparatus in the "neck-down" position, though the apparatus could clearly be arranged to deliver the kegs in the "neck-up" position.The first keg 30 approaching the apparatus is in the correct "neck-down" position and so is allowed to pass straight through the sections 10 and 12, the revolving arm mechanisms 18 remaining in the initial position shown in Figure 1a with the arms 20 and 24 horizontal and the arms 22 extending downwards. The next keg 32 is in the "neck-up" position and so must be turned over. As the keg 32 moves from escapement 16 the revolving arm mechanism 18 of the first section 10 is rotated through 90" to the position shown in Figure 1 b so that the pair of arms 20 extend vertically upwards and the arms 22 are horizontal and lie below the chains of conveyor 14.

The keg 32 moves over the arms 22 and is engaged by the arms 20. The mechanism 18 continues to rotate to the positon shown in Figure 1 c, so that the keg 32 is turned through 90", the keg being lifted by arms 22 and lowered onto its side by arms 20. At the same time the revolving arm mechanism 18' of section 12 is rotated through 180", in the direction shown by the arrow, to take up the position shown in Figure 1c in which the arms 22' extend vertically upwards and the arms 24' are horizontal and in a position to receive the keg 32 as it is lowered by the arms 20 of mechanism 18.The mechanism 18' continues to rotate so that the keg 32 is rotated through a further 90", the keg being lifted by the arms 24' and lowered by the arms 22' onto the conveyor 14, as shown in Figure 1 d. At the same time the mechanism 18 of the first section 10 continues to rotate until it reaches the initial positon or, if the next keg is to be inverted, the receiving position (Figure 1 b), and the escapement 16 releases the next keg 34. In the example shown in the drawings the next keg 34 is in the correct position, so that the mechanism 18 remains in the initial position.

As the keg 32 is discharged on conveyor 14, the mechanism 18' of the second section 12 continues to rotate to the initial position shown in Figure 1 e, so that the keg 34 can pass through the apparatus.

Figures 2 to 4 show in more detail the turning section 10 of the apparatus. The section comprises a main frame 40 supported on legs 42. Supported between cross-members 44 and 46 of the frame 40 are two channel-section tracks 48 for chains 50 of the conveyor 14. The return runs of chains 50 are along tracks 52 similarly supported beneath tracks 48. The chains 50 are driven by an electric motor in the usual way.

The arms 20,22 and 24 of the revolving arm mechanism 18 are formed by a pair of T-shaped members 54 positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor 14. Each T-shaped member 54 is fixed by means of a boss 56 to a transverse horizontal shaft 58 rotatably mounted in pillow blocks 60 fixed to main frame 40. The shaft 58 is intermittently driven by an electric motor (not shown) through a pinion 62 and a gear wheel 64 fixed to one end of the shaft 58.

The lengths of the arms 20 and 22 and the spacing between the arms of each pair are such that each pair of arms can engage and support a keg during the turning operation as described above.

To cushion the impact of a keg on the conveyor 14 as it is lowered by the arms 20 during the turning operation, a receiving grid is provided, consisting of two arms 66 positioned between the chain tracks 48 and two arms 68 one between each conveyor track 48 and the adjacent arm 24 of the revolving arm mechanism. The four arms 66,68 are fixed to a sleeve 70 rotatable on the shaft 58, so that they can move between a lowered position, shown in the drawings, in which they are below the upper faces of conveyor chains 50 and a raised position in which they are above the chains. The arms 66,68 of the receiving grid are movable by means of an air cylinder 72 which acts between a mounting bracket 74 fixed to the main frame 40 and a bracket 76 fixed to the outer ends of arms 66.In operation the arms 66, 68 are raised as the mechanism 18 is rotated to turn a keg, so that the keg is engaged by the arms 66, 68 and lowered gently on the conveyor chains 50 under the action of the air cylinder 72.

The second turning section 12 is constructed in a similar manner to the first section 10, and the two sections are arranged together as illustrated in Figures 1a to 1b so that kegs can be turned through 180" as they pass through the apparatus. The lengths of the arms 24 and 20' and the relative positions of the two sections 10 and 12 are such that, in the position shown in Figure 1 c, the ends of the two pairs of arms 24 and 20' are close to one another and the centre of gravity of the keg is above and close to the ends of the arms 20'. This enables the keg to be safely lifted by arms 20' whilst ensuring that it can be lowered by arms 24 onto the arms 66 of the receiving grid before it overbalances. Alternatively, the arms 24 and 20' could be made longer and arranged to overlap one another in the position shown in Figure 1c. - The apparatus is provided with suitable control circuits for controlling and timing the operation of the escapement 14 and the revolving arm mechanisms 18 and 18'. The control circuits may include for example lamp and photoelectric cell units for sensing the arrival of a keg at the turning stations.

Claims (6)

1. Apparatus for inverting selected ones of a series of loads fed sequentially to the apparatus, comprising conveyor means for conveying loads through first and second turning stations of the apparatus, and first and second turning mechanisms positioned respectively at the first and second turning stations, each turning mechanism having a set of arms and means for rotating the arms about a horizontal axis transverse to the conveyor means between a first position in which loads can pass unimpeded through the turning station, a second position in which the set of arms can engage a load on the conveyor means and a third position 90 from the second positon, the set of arms being adapted to support the load can rotate it through 90" as the arms move from the second to the third position, the second turning mechanism being arranged to receive each load turned through 90" by the first turning mechanism and to rotate itthrough a further 90".

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the set of arms of each turning mechanism comprises at least two pairs of arms arranged at right angles to one another and to the axis of rotation of the arms, all the arms being located below the supporting surface of the conveyor means in the first position, one pair of arms extending vertically upwards above the supporting surface conveyor means and the other pair being horizontal below the said surface in the second position, so that a load can be received in the angle between the arms, and the latter pair of arms extending vertically-upwards in the third position of the arms.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the set of arms of each turning mechanism comprises two pairs of arms, which in the first position, extend horizontally in opposite directions from their axis of rotation and a third pair of arms which extend vertically downwards in the first position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the arms of each turning mechanism are fixed to a shaft rotatable about the said axis and drive means are provided for rotating the shaft thereby to effect a rotation of the arms.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the conveyor means is a chain conveyor.

6. Apparatus for inverted selected ones of a series of loads, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.