GB2103562A - Pallet loading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A pallet loading apparatus wherein a carrying-in unit (4 or 104) for supplying articles (B) to be loaded and a carrying-out unit (3 or 103), having a pallet (P) placed thereon for loading, are disposed adjacent to each other, includes an upright post (21 or 111) in the vicinity of said units, and an elongate horizontal lift (22 or 112) which is movable up and down on the post (21 or 111). In a first embodiment (Fig. 1) a trolley (31) is movable in a horizontal direction along the lift between the carrying- in and carrying-out units, and has suspended therefrom a holding mechanism (41) for holding the articles. The articles are transferred and loaded onto the pallet (P) by holding a row of articles which are carried into the carrying-in unit (2), in the holding mechanism (41) and transferring the thus held articles to the pallet (P) at the carrying-out unit (3) both by the ascent and descent of the lift (22) and the horizontal movement of the trolley (31). In another embodiment (Fig. 10), a horizontal trolley (121) which extends transversely to the lift (112), is movable horizontally along the lift (112) and mounts a carriage (131) which is movable horizontally therealong and suspends a holding mechanism (141) for the articles. This further embodiment operates in a manner similar to the previous embodiment but posseses an additional degree of movement provided by the carriage (131). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pallet loading apparatus The present invention relates to a pallet loading apparatus for loading articles on a predetermined pattern and in a piled manner upon a pallet.

A pallet loading apparatus according to the prior art loads a pallet with articles by carrying in a predetermined number of articles for one layer and arranging them on 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 of a stopper, and then by retracting the carriage thereby to allow the articles for one layer to drop onto the pallet.

In the case of the conventional pallet loading apparatus thus far described, however, since a large load is exerted upon the carriage and its moving and supporting unit and since the articles are piled in multiple layers, there are required not only both a mechanism for moving up and down the carriage and its moving and supporting unit, which are highly loaded, and a mechanism for moving up and down the pallet loaded with the articles but also a space for allowing the carriage to retract. As a result, the pallet loading apparatus 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 apparatus.

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 of articles for one layer plural times. In order to achieve this object, the pallet loading apparatus according to the present invention is constructed such that a carrying-in unit for carrying in respective articles and a carryingout unit having a pallet placed thereon for loading the articles are disposed adjacent to each other, such that a post is erected upright in the vicinity of those carrying-in and carrying-out units, such that there is disposed on that post a lift which is elongated in a horizontal direction along those carrying-in and carrying-out units and which is enabled to move up and down on that post, such that 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 units, and such that a holding mechanism for holding the articles is suspended from the lower portion of that transverse trolley. Thus, the 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 unit, in the holding mechanism, by transferring the articles, which are held in the holding mechanism to the carrying-out unit 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 on 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 holding mechanism is carried on that carriage, whereby a row of articles are divided and transferred plural times onto the carryingout unit.

In the aforementioned respective pallet loading apparatus, moreover, in addition to the advantage that box-shaped articles can be loaded by the use of the holding mechanism equipped with a pair of clamping members, the positioning operations of the box-shaped articles and the holding mechanism both at the carrying-in unit is enabled to have their degrees of freedom relatively increased by driving both the paired clamping members of the holding mechanism to move toward and away from each other so that the positioning operations can be facilitated to ensure the clamping and holding operations of the boxshaped articles.

In the case of the aforementioned holding mechanism having both its paired clamping members driven, still moreover, the holding mechanism itself is enabled to have its construction simplified and its size reduced by driving both the clamping members by means of a single cylinder.

In the aforementioned respective pallet loading apparatus, furthermore, 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 reduced by 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 supporting member which is adapted to move to and from below the box-shaped articles, furthermore, the boxshaped articles are clamped with a suitable force between the paired clamping members, and the box-shaped articles thus clamped between the clamping members are prevented exclusively by that support member from dropping down so that they can be prevented from being broken by the clamping forces of the clamping members.

In the aforementioned respective pallet loading apparatus, furthermore, bag-shaped articles can also be loaded by the use of a holding mechanism which is equipped with a pair of scooping members.

In the case of the aforementioned pallet loading apparatus equipped with the paired scooping members, the deformations of the bag-shaped articles and the unbalance 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 aforementioned holding mechanism equipped with the push member between the paired scooping members, moreover, the holding mechanism itself can have its construction simplified and its size reduced by moving up and down the push member in mechanical response to the opening and closing operations of the paired scooping members.

In the aforementioned respective 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 rotate in a horizontal plane.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description to be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a first embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same; Figure 4 is a top plan view showing a portion of the same; Figure 5 is a side elevation showing a portion of the same; Figures 6 to 8 are longitudinal sections showing the respective portions of the same; Figure 9 is a front elevation showing a second embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 10 is a top plan view of the same; Figure 11 is a side elevation of the same; Figure 12 is a top plan view showing the loading state of the same; Figure 13 is a front elevation showing a third embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus of the present invention, and particularly the holding mechanism of the same;; Figure 14 is a top view showing a fourth embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 15 is a front elevation of the same; Figure 16 is a top plan view of an essential portion of the same; Figures 1 7(A), 1 7(B) and 1 7(C) are explanatory views illustrating the operations of the holding mechanism of the same; Figure 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 Figure 19 is a side elevation showing the same holding mechanism.

The present invention will now be specifically described in connection with the embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First of all, the following description is directed to a plurality of embodiments for loading box-shaped articles.

Reference numeral 1 appearing in Figs. 1 and 3 generally indicates a horizontal platform, at both sides of which there are disposed in an adjacent manner a carrying-in unit 2 for carrying-in box-shaped articles B and a carrying-out unit for carrying-out the articles B for their subsequent loading purpose. In the carrying-in unit 2 located at the lefthand side, there is disposed the leading end portion of a carrying-in conveyor 4 for carrying-in the articles B. A pallet P is to be placed on the carrying-out unit 3 located at the righthand side. This carrying-in conveyor 4 is equipped, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with a number of rollers 6 which are juxtaposed 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 aforementioned arranging mechanism 7 is constructed to include a front stopper 9, which is mounted between the two side frames 5 of the aforementioned carrying-in conveyor 4, a side stopper 10, which is mounted on the righthand side frame 5, and a pusher 11 which is mounted on the lefthand side frame 5 such that it is juxtaposed to that side stopper 1 0. That pusher 11 is adapted to be brought toward and away from 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 aforementioned turning mechanism 8 is constructed to include a turn stopper 1 3 and a turn pusher 14 both of which are mounted on the aforementioned righthand side frame 5. The turn stopper 1 3 is rocked by a not-shown driving mechanism to bring its leading end portion to and from above the carrying-in conveyor 4, whereas the turn pusher 1 4 is brought to and from above the carr),.ng-in conveyor 4 by the action of an air cylinder 1 5.

In the carrying-in conveyor 4 thus far described, therefore, the box-shaped articles B are arranged row by row upon a predetermined piling pattern.

In case the one row of the piling pattern is composed of two articles in the longitudinal direction, the turning mechanism 8 is left inoperative so that the two articles B, which are fed in the longitudinal direction and at an interval, are allowed to pass as they are until they are stopped by the front stopper 9 of the arranging mechanism 7. Then, the pusher 11 advances to bring the two articles B into abutting contact with the side stopper 10. In case the one row of the piling pattern is composed of three articles in the widthwise, or transverse direction, the turn stopper 1 3 of the turning mechanism 8 is rocked clockwise, as 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 portions pushed, when they respectively abut against the leading end portion of the turn stopper 13, by the instant advance or retraction of the turn pusher 14 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 pusher 11 moves forward to bring the three articles B into abutment contact with the side stopper 10.

Incidentally, if one row of two or three articles B are fed to the carrying-in conveyor 4, the feed 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 for conveying the pallet P may be disposed at the carryingout unit 3 similarly to the aforementioned carrying-in conveyor 4.

In the vicinity of the carrying-in and carrying-out units 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 the carrying-in and carrying-out units 2 and 3, i.e., at the front side thereof, there are vertically movably disposed a lift 22 which is elongated in a horizontal direction along the carrying-in and carrying-out units 2 and 3, i.e., in a transverse direction.

As better seen from Figs. 4 and 5, more specifically 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 plurality of rollers 24 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 connected through a reduction mechanism 26 to a lift motor 27. A chain 29, which is made to run on that sprocket 28, has its one end portion attached to the aforementioned lift 22 and its other end portion attached to a balance weight 30 inside of the stationary post 21. As a result, the lift 22 is moved up and down along the stationary post 21 by the drive of the lift motor 27.

On the aforementioned lift at the side of the carrying-in and carrying-out units 2 and 3, i.e., at the front side thereof, 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 from Figs. 4 and 5, more specifically, the aforementioned lift 22 is equipped on its upper and lower portions at both the sides thereof with horizontal guide rails 32. On the upper and lower portions of the aforementioned transverse trolley 31, there are borne a plurality of rollers 33 which are in engagement with the aforementioned guide rails 32.

Moreover, the aforementioned lift 22 is equipped at its front portion with a rack 34 which extends in the longitudinal direction thereof. On the aforementioned 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 trolley 31. Thus, this transverse trolley 31 is moved in a horizontal direction along the lift 22 by the drive of the transverse motor 36.

On the front portion of the aforementioned transverse trolley 31, moreover, there is carried a holding mechanism 41 for holding the articles B. This holding mechanism 41 is constructed, as better seen from Figs. 4 and 5, to include a supporting frame 42, which is supported on the transverse trolley 31, and a pair of plate-shaped clamping members 43 and 44 which are made of an elastic material such as a rubber and which are disposed below the front and rear portions of the supporting frame 42, respectively.

In the embodiment being described, the aforementioned supporting frame 42 is supported vertically movably on the aforementioned transverse trolley 31.

At both sides of the front portion of the aforementioned transverse trolley 31, more specifically, there are disposed, as better seen from Fig. 6, a pair of grooved guides 46 which are formed with retaining portions 45 at their lower ends. On both sides of the front portion of the aforementioned supporting frame 42, moreover, there are respectively borne a pair of upper and lower rollers 47 which are in engagement with the aforementioned guides 46.

On the other hand, the aforementioned supporting frame 42 of the embodiment under consideration is elastically supported on the aforementioned transverse trolley 31 such that it is biased upward.

On the front portion of the aforementioned transverse trolley 31, more specifically, as better seen from Fig. 7, there is mounted a horizontal plate member 48 at which a pair of supporting rods 49 are anchored upright. On the rear portion of the aforementioned sup porting frame 42, moreover, there is mounted a plate member 50 having holes 51, which are fitted on the aforementioned supporting rods 49. Still moreover, 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 paired clamping members 43 and 44 are both made movable back and forth and adapted to be driven commonly by a single cylinder.

Specifically, the front clamping member 43 is mounted on the shorter side portion of a generally L-shaped arm 53, which has its longer side portion so fitted in grooved guides 54 mounted on both sides of the front portion of the aforementioned supporting frame 42 that it can move back and forth. On the other hand, the rear clamping member 44 is mounted on the lower end portion of a slightly shorter arm 55, which has its upper end portion fixed to a pivot pin 56 borne rotatably in a horizontal direction in the rear lower portion of the supporting frame 42.

To the upper portion of the aforementioned supporting frame 42, on the other hand, there is hinged an air cylinder 57 having a piston rod, to the leading end of which a drive arm 58 is hingedly connected. To the intermediate portion of that drive arm 58, as better steen from Fig. 8, there is attached an annular member 59 having a slot, in which a pin 61 fixed to the base end portion of the aforementioned first arm 53 through a supporting member 60 is loosely fitted 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, about the pivot 56 so that the arm 53 is retracted to the right along the guides 54 whereas the arm 55 is rotated clockwise about the pivot pin 56, thereby to close the respective clamping members 43 and 44. If the aforementioned air cylinder 57 is returned to retract the piston rod, on the contrary, the drive arm 58 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 5, about the pivot pin 56 so that the arm 53 is protruded to the left along the guides 54 whereas the arm 55 is rotated counter-clockwise about the pivot pin 56, thereby to open the respective clamping members 43 and 44.

On the other hand, the aforementioned front arm 53 is constructed, as better seen from Figs. 4 and 5, to include a plurality of plate members 63 and 64, which are jointed by means of screws 66 through a plurality of slots 65 formed in the respective plate members 63 and 64 so that the length of that arm 53 can be adjusted to adjust the size of the gap between the respective clamping mem bers 43 and 44.

The operations of the embodiment having the construction thus far described will be described in the following.

The articles B are fed to the carrying-in conveyor 4 so that two or three of them are arranged in a row at the leading 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 position 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 cylinder 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 thereof.

Then, the lift motor 27 is energized to move up the lift 22, and the transverse motor 36 is energized to move the transverse trolley 31 rightwardly of Figs. 1 and 2 along the lift 22 by the coaction of the pinion 35 and the rack 34 so that the articles B held by the holding mechanism 41 are brought to above a predetermined piling position of the pallet P.

Then, the lift motor 27 is energized to move down the lift 22 so that the articles B are placed on the pallet P, and the air cylinder 57 is actuated to retract its piston rod so that the respective 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 frame 42 of the holding mechanism 41 is so supported that it can move upward relative to the transverse trolley 31 and is also biased upward by the action of the springs 52. As a result, the loads of the lift 22 and the transverse trolley 31 are not exerted between the articles B and the pallet P, and the load of the holding mechanism 41 is reduced by the actions of the springs 52 so that the articles B are prevented from being broken.

Then, the lift motor 27 is energized to move up the lift 22, and the transverse motor 36 is energized to move the transverse trolley 31 leftwardly of Figs. 1 and 2 so that the holding mechanism 41 is brought to a position above the carrying-in conveyor 4, thus being p: apared for the operations thus far described.

Moreover, these operations are repeated until the articles B are piled in a predetermined layers on a predetermined piling pattern upon the pallet P.

As has been described herein before, according to the embodiment under consideration, the holding mechanism 41 having the paired clamping members 43 and 44 is made mov able in a vertical direction and in a transversely horizontal direction so that the box-shaped articles B can be piled row by row on the piling platform upon the pallet P. As is different from the construction according to the prior art, there are required neither the arranging table for arranging the articles B for one layer nor the carriage for supporting and moving the articles B for 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 factory or warehouse.

Moreover, the loading apparatus has its most portion supported by the stationary post 21 so that its installation is facilitated.

According 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 state abut against the articles B, while the holding mechanism 41 is moving down toward the articles B lying on the carrying-in conveyor 4, so that the articles B as well as the holding mechanism 41 can be easily positioned at the carrying-in unit 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, and the holding mechanism 41 itself can have its construction simplified and its size reduced.

In the embodiment thus far 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 modified such that the lift 22 is supported at its end portion by the stationary post 21.

Figs. 9 to 1 2 show a second embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 101 appearing in Figs.

9 to 11 generally indicates a horizontal platform, at both the sides of which there are disposed adjacent to each other a carrying-in unit 102 for the box-shaped articles B and a carrying-out unit 103 for loading the articles B. At the carrying-in unit 102 at the righthand side, there is disposed the leading end portion of a carrying-in conveyor 104 for separately conveying the articles B. The pallet P is placed on the carrying-out unit 103 at the lefthand side.

Moreover, the aforementioned carrying-in conveyor 104 is so constructed that a number of rollers 106 are juxtaposed to one another and borne between two side frames 105. A predetermined number, e.g., two articles B, which are divided longitudinally into two halves for one row, are successively conveyed, while being oriented in a predetermined direction, by the action of the carryingin conveyor 104 until they are stopped at the leading end portion of the conveyor 104 by means of a not-shown stopper.

Incidentally, a pallet conveyor for conveying the pallet P may be disposed at the carryingout unit 103 similarly to the carrying-in conveyor 104 described in the above.

In the vicinity of the aforementioned carrying-in and carrying-out units 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 units 102 and 103, i.e., at the front side thereof, there is vertically movably disposed a lift 11 2 which is elongated in a horizontal direction along the carrying-in and carryingout units 102 and 103, i.e., in a transverse direction.

Specifically, the aforementioned stationary post 111 is equipped at its both sides with vertical guide rails 11 3. On the rear portion of the aforementioned lift 112, moreover, there are borne through a pair of brackets 11 5 a plurality of rollers 114, which are in engagement with the aforementioned guide rails 11 3. Still moreover, the lift 112 is moved up and down by means of a drive mechanism which is composed of a motor 11 6 mounted on the upper end portion of the stationary post 111.

On the lift 11 2 at the side of the carrying-in and carrying-out units 102 and 103, i.e., at the front side thereof, on the other hand, there is disposed a transverse trolley 1 21 which is elongated in a horizontal direction to intersect the lift 112, i.e., in a longitudinal direction and which is made movable in a horizontal direction between the carrying-in and carrying-out units 102 and 103.

Specifically, the aforementioned lift 11 2 is equipped at its upper and lower portions with transversely horizontal guide rails 1 22. On the rear end portion of the aforementioned transverse trolley 121, moreover, there are borne through a supporting frame 1 24 having a generally C-shaped side view a plurality of rollers 123, which are in engagement with the aforementioned guide rails 122. Still moreover, the transverse trolley 1 21 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 a horizontal direction to intersect the moving direction of the transverse trolley 1 21.

Specifically, this transverse trolley 121 is equipped at its both side portions with longitudinally horizontal guide rails 1 32. On both the side portions of the aformentioned car riage 131, moreover there are respectively borne a plurality of rollers 133, which are in engagement with the aforementioned 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 141 for 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 supported on the carriage 131, a first plate-shaped clamping member 143, which is mounted on that supporting frame 1 42 at the lower portion thereof at the lefthand side, i.e., at the side of the carrying-out unit 103, a second plate-shaped clamping member 144, which is mounted on the supporting frame 1 42 at the lower portion thereof at the righthand side, i.e., at the side of the carrying-in unit 102 in a position opposite to the first clamping member 143, and a plurality of generally L-shaped supporting members 145 which are mounted 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 1 42 is so suspended from the lower portion of the aforementioned carriage 1 31 through a shaft 1 34 as to rotate in a horizontal plane and is rotated by the action of a not-shown drive mechanism.

In this embodiment, moreover, the first clamping member 143 is fixedly mounted on the lefthand lower portion of the aforementioned supporting frame 142.

On the other hand, the second clamping member 1 44 is adapted to move forward and away from the aforementioned first clamping member 143 so that it may clamp a predetermined number of articles B between itself and the first clamping member 143. Specifically, that second clamping member 1 44 is attached to the leading end portions of the piston rods of a pair of air cylinders 146, which in turn are attached to the lower end portions of mounting plates 1 47 attached to the righthand lower portion of the aforementioned 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 produce and retract their piston rods.

The aforementioned supporting members 1 45 are so constructed that horizontal supporting portions formed at their lower ends can move from the outside of the second clamping member 144 toward and away from the righthand lower portion or portions of the article B or articles B between the aforementioned first and second clamping members 1 43 and 1 44 thereby to prevent the article B or articles B from dropping down from between the first and second clamping members 1 43 and 1 44. Specifically, those supporting members 1 45 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 142 through a pair of bearings 1 50. 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 of the piston rod of an air cylinder 1 53 hinged to the upper portion of the aforementioned supporting frame 1 42 through a bracket 1 52. By actuating the air cylinder 1 53 to protrude and retract its piston rod, the supporting members 1 45 are rocked about the pivot pin 1 49 so that their supporting portions 1 48 approach and leave the righthand lower portion of the articles B between the aforementioned first and second clamping members 1 43 and 1 44 from the outside of the second clamping member 144. In this embodiment, moreover, the supporting portions 1 48 are arcuately moved back and forth by rocking the supporting members 145.

However, the supporting members 1 45 can be linearly moved by suitable means so that their supporting portions 148 can be linearly moved back and forth.

The operations of the embodiment having the construction thus far described will be described in the following.

A predetermined number of articles B are fed to the carrying-in conveyor 104 and they are stopped at the leading end portion of the conveyor 104, which is disposed at the carrying-in unit 102.

Then, the lift 11 2 is moved down along the stationary post 111 to a predetermined position so that the first and second clamping members 143 and 144 of the holding mechanism 141 are brought to both sides of the articles B. After that, the air cylinders 146 are actuated to protrude their piston rods so that the second clamping member 144 is brought toward the first clamping member 1 43 thereby to clamp the articles B. Then, the air cylinder 1 53 is actuated to protrude its piston rod so that the supporting portions 148 of the supporting members 1 45 are protruded to below the righthand lower portions of the articles B from the back of the second clamping member 1 44 thereby to support the articles B.

Then, the lift 11 2 is moved up, and the transverse trolley 1 21 is moved to the left along the lift 11 2. If necessary, moreover, the carriage 131 is moved forward or backward along the transverse trolley 121 so that not only the first and second clamping members 143 and 144 but also the articles B held by the supporting members 1 45 are brought to above the predetermined piling position at the lefthand front or rear portion of the pallet P which is placed on the carrying-out unit 103.

Next, the lift 11 2 is moved down to bring down the articles B to the nmdptrmir'orI piling position of the lefthand front or rear portion above the pallet P. After that, the air cylinder 1 53 is actuated to retract its piston rod so that the supporting portions 148 of the supporting members 145 are extracted from the righthand lower portion of the articles B.

After that, the air cylinder 1 46 is actuated to retract its piston rod so that the second clamping member 144 is retracted to release the articles B.

Then, the lift 11 2 is moved up, and the transverse trolley 1 21 is moved to the right. If necessary, moreover, the carriage 131 is moved forward or backward so that the holding mechanism 141 is positioned above the leading end portion of the carrying-in conveyor 104.

Moreover, the operations thus far described are successibly carried out to transfer the predetermined number of articles B to the predetermined piling positions at the lefthand front and rear portions and the righthand front and rear portions of the pallet P, thus finishing the loading operation of the articles for one layer. These operations are repeated until the articles B are piled in a predetermined layers on a predetermined piling pattern upon the pallet P.

In the operations thus far described, incidentally, when the articles B are to be transferred to the predetermined piling positions at the righthand front and rear portions upon the pallet P, it may be intended to minimize the gap S between the articles B which have already been transferred to the predetermined piling positions at the lefthand front and rear portions upon the pallet P. For this intention, as the case may be, after the article B is moved down slightly rightward of the predetermined piling positions at the righthand front or rear portion upon the pallet P, the transverse trolley 121 is moved slightly leftward to bring the first clamping member 143 into contact with the article B, which has already been transferred to the lefthand front or rear portion, and the supporting members 145 and the second clamping member 144 are retracted to transfer that article B.

As has been described hereinbefore, according to the embodiment under consideration, since the holding mechanism is enabled to move not only in a vertical direction and in a transversely horizontal direction but also in a longitudinally horizontal direction, one row of the piling pattern can be further divided into plural times so that one or plural box-shaped articles B can be separately loaded onto the pallet P. As a result, similarly to the foregoing first embodiment, the pallet loading apparatus can have its construction simplified and its size reduced so that it can be easily installed on the existing factory or warehouse.

In this second embodiment, moreover, since only the second one 144 of the paired clamping members 1 43 and 144 of the holding mechanism 141 is driven to move toward and away from the first clamping member 143, the gap S between the articles B loaded onto the pallet P can be restricted to the thickness of the first clamping member 143.

In the second embodiment, still moreover, the holding mechanism 141 is equipped with the supporting members 1 45 which have their supporting portions 148 protruding from the outside of the second clamping member 1 44 to below the articles B between the first and second clamping members 143 and 144 thereby to prevent the articles B from dropping down so that it can hold the articles B without fail. Since the second clamping member 144 can have its clamping force weakened, furthermore, the articles B are prevented from being broken.When the articles B are to be released, the second clamping member 1 44 is enabled to function as a stopper by being retracted after the supporting members 1 45 have been extracted from below the articles B so that the articles B can be prevented from being positionally displaced. In addition, since the first clamping member 143 does not require any elastic pad but can be constructed of a single plate, the gap between the articles B can be remarkably reduced.

In the second embodiment, furthermore, since the supporting frame 1 42 of the holding mechanism 141 can rotate 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 articles B can be loaded on various patterns in accordance with the shape of the articles B.

In the second embodiment, incidentally, the first clamping member 143 is fixedly mounted on the supporting frame 142. The present invention should not be limited thereto but can be modified such that the first clamping member 1 43 is so disposed that it can be retracted upward. In this modification, the articles B can be pushed by moving down the articles B onto the pallet P, by retracting the supporting members 145, by retracting the second clamping member 144, by retracting upward the first 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 embodiment, incidentally, the lift 11 2 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 limited thereto but can be modified such that the lift 11 2 is vertically movably supported at its end portion on the stationary post 111.

Fig. 1 3 shows a third embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus according to the present invention.

Here, this third embodiment basically has similar constructions and operations to those of the foregoing second embodiment, and accordingly the following descripition will be limited to the different portion, i.e., the holding mechanism.

Reference numeral 241 appearing in Fig.

1 3 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.

The holding mechanism 241 of this third embodiment is constructed to include a supporting 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 member 244, which is disposed at the righthand lower portion of the aforementioned supporting frame 242 in a manner to face the first clamping member 243, and a plurality of generally L-shaped supporting members 245 which are disposed outside of that second clamping member 244.

The aforementioned supporting frame 242 is so hinged to the lower portion of the aforementioned carriage 131 through the shaft 1 34 in a similar manner to the second embodiment that it can freely rotate in a horizontal plane, and is rotationally driven by means of a not-shown drive mechanism.

The aforementioned first clamping member 243 is fixedly attached likewise the second embodiment to the lefthand lower portion of the aforementioned supporting frame 242.

The aforementioned second clamping member 244 is so constructed likewise the second embodiment that it can be protruded toward and retracted away from the aforementioned first clamping member 243 thereby to clamp a predetermined number of articles B together with the first 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 248 borne on plate members 247. To the plate members 247 at both sides, there is attached the second clamping member 244 which has its upper end portion hinged to the leading end portion of the piston rod of an air cylinder 249 mounted on the aforementioned supporting frame 242.By actuating the air cylinder 249 to protrude 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 250 is mounted on the second clamping member 244.

The aforementioned supporting members 245 are constructed such that supporting portions 251 at their lower ends can be protruded from the outside of the second clamping member 244 toward the righthand lower portions of the articles B between the aforementioned first and second clamping members 243 and 244 and retracted away from those righthand lower portions of the articles B thereby to prevent the articles B between the first and second clamping members 243 and 244 from dropping down, but are attached in different positions 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 rotatably supported on the outside upper portion of the aforementioned second clamping member 244 by means of a pair of bearings 253.To that pivot pin 252, there is secured one end of a drive lever 254, which has its other end hinged to the leading end portion of the piston rod of an air cylinder 256 hinged to the outside lower portion of the aforementioned second clamping member 244 through brackets 255. Thus, by actuating the air cylinder 256 to protrude 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 between the aforementioned first and second clamping members 243 and 244 and to retract the same portions 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.

Incidentally, the operations and advantages of the third embodiment are similar to those of the foregoing second embodiment, and accordingly the following 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 extracted from below the articles B, so that the articles B held by the holding mechanism 241 can be brought close to the pallet P or the articles B of the underlying layer, whereby their drop distance can be shorten d and whereby the articles B of the underlying layer can be prevented from being broken by the leading ends of the supporting portions 251.

According to this third embodiment, moreover, since the supporting members 245, their driving air cylinder 256 and so on are attached to the second clamping member 244, the adjustment to cope with the change of the size of the articles B to be held can be done with remarkably ease in case it is changed. In the holding mechanism 1 41 according to the foregoing second embodiment, specifically, the size adjustment can be performed, in case it is small, exclusively by changing the attached position of the first clamping member 143, but both the attached positions of the bearings 1 50 of the supporting members 145 and the attached angle of the drive lever 151 have to be adjusted in addition to the attached position of the first clamping member 143 in case the size adjust ment is large.In the holding mechanism 241 according to this third embodiment, on the contrary, it is sufficient to change the attached position of the first clamping member 243 in all cases.

The descriptions concerning the specific embodiments of the pallet loading apparatus for loading the box-shaped articles are ended.

The practise of the pallet loading apparatus should not be limited to the foregoing first to third embodiments. But, in both the cases of the apparatus of the first embodiment for moving the holding mechanism in two directions, i.e., in vertical and transverse directions and the apparatus of the second embodiment for moving the holding mechanism in three directions, i.e., in vertical, transverse and longitudinal directions, one or plural arbitrary functions can be combined to drive both the paired clamping members of that holding mechanism, to drive only one of the paired clamping members of 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 of the present invention for loading bag-shaped articles will be described in the following.

Figs. 14 to 1 7 show a fourth embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 301 appearing in Figs.

14 and 1 5 indicates a horizontal platform, at the back (as is located at an upper portion of Fig. 14) of which there is disposed a carryingin unit 302 for bag-shaped articles B. Adjacent to this carrying-in unit 302, there is disposed a carrying-out unit 303 for loading the articles B, which extends from the platform 301 to the front (as is located at a lower portion of Fig. 14) of the platform 301. A stand-by conveyor 304 is disposed at the carrying-in unit 302, whereas a pallet table 305 is disposed in a horizontal position above the carrying-out unit 303 through a plurality of legs 306.

Moreover, the aforementioned stand-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 thereby to convey the bag-shaped articles B fed from the back until they are stopped at a predetermined position.

At the back of the aforementioned stand-by conveyor 304, there is disposed in a continuous manner a carrying-in conveyor 309, above which a pair of guide members 310 are so arranged as to have their spacing narrowed forward. Thus, the articles B fed from the back are conveyed onto the stand-by conveyor 304 such that their longitudinal direction is aligned with the conveying direction of the stand-by conveyor 304 by the coactions of the guide members 310.

Incidentally, the pallet table 305 may be replaced by a pallet conveyor which is disposed similarly to the aforementioned standby conveyor 304 at the carrying-out unit 303 thereby to convey the pallet P.

In the vicinity of the aforementioned carrying-in and carrying-out units 302 and 303, moreover, there is erected upright a stationary post 311 which is disposed at the righthand side of the aforementioned platform 301. On that stationary post 311 at the side of the carrying-in and carrying-out units 302 and 303, i.e., at the lefthand side, there is verti cally mounted a lift 31 2 which is elongated in a horizontal direction along the carrying-in and carrying-out units 302 and 303, i.e., in a horizontal direction.

Specifically, the aforementioned stationary post 311 is equipped at its front and rear sides, respectively, with vertical guide rails 313. At the righthand side portion of the aforementioned lift 312, there are borne through a pair of front and rear opposite supporting frames 315 a plurality of rollers 314, which are in engagement with the aforementioned guide rails 313. Moreover, the lift 31 2 is moved up and down by the action of 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 lift 31 2 at the side of the carrying-in and carrying-out units 302 and 303, i.e., at the lefthand side, furthermore, 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 freely movable in a horizontal direction between the carrying-in and carrying-out units 302 and 303.

Specifically, the aforementioned lift 31 2 is equipped at its upper and lower portions, respectively, with longitudinally horizontal guide rails 322. On the righthand end portion of the aforementioned transverse trolley 321, moreover, there are borne through a supporting frame 324 having a generally C-shaped front view a plurality of rollers 323, which are in engagement with the aforementioned plural rollers 323. Still moreover, the 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, furthermore, there is movably mounted a carriage 331 which is enabled to move in a horizontal direction to intersect the moving direction of the transverse trolley 321.

Specifically, the aforementioned transverse trolley 321 is equipped at its front and rear side portions, respectively, with transversely horizontal guide rails 332. On the front and rear side portions of the aforementioned car riage 331, respectively, there are borne a plurality of rollers 333, which are in engagement with the aforementioned guide rails 332. Moreover, the carriage 331 thus constructed 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 articles B is suspended from the lower portion of the aforementioned carriage 331. This holding mechanism 341 is constructed, as is better seen from Fig. 17, to include a supporting frame 342, which is suspended from the carriage 331, a pair of plate-shaped scooping members 343 generally having a shape of letter "L', which are oppositely attached to the supporting frame 342, and a rod-shaped push member 344 which is attached to the lower portion of the aforementioned supporting frame 342 between those paired scooping members 343.

In this fourth embodiment, the aforementioned supporting frame 342 is so suspended from the lower portion of the aforementioned carriage 331 that it can freely rotate in a horizontal plane, and is driven to rotate by the action of a not-shown drive mechanism.

The aforementioned 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 scoope and hold a bag-shaped article B with supporting portions 346 at their leading ends.

The aforementioned push member 344 is so attached to the aforementioned supporting frame 342 through a rod 347 that it can freely move up and down, and is adapted to ascend and descend by the action of a notshown mechanism.

Next, 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 trolley 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 rotating the holding mechanism 341, the directions of the pivot pins 345 of the scooping members 343 are made coincident 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 action of the carrying-in conveyor 309, and the longitudinal direction of 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 stand-by conveyor 304, and the succeeding articles B is prevented from being carried onto the stand-by conveyor 304.

When the article B is stopped at 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, the scooping members 343 are closed to insert their supporting portions to below the article B.

After the lift 312 is subsequently moved up, both the transverse trolley 321 and the carriage 331 are moved to bring the holding mechanism 341 to above a predetermined piling position on the pallet P. Then, as shown in Fig. 17(A), the lift 321 is moved down to position the article B held on the holding mechanism 341 slightly 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 center portion of the article B, until this article 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 different from the piling direction of the same on the pallet P, the holding mechanism 341 is turned until the direction of 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 pallet P.

As has been described hereinbefore, according to this fourth embodiment, since the'holding mechanism 341 having the paired clamping members 343 is enabled to move in the vertical direction, in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, one or plural bag-shaped articles B can be separately loaded onto the pallet P. As is different from the conx notional pallet loading apparatus, there are required neither the arranging table for arranging the articles of one layer not the carriage for supporting and carrying the articles B of one layer. Nor is required a mechanism for vertically moving the pallet P loaded with the articles B. As a result, the pallet loading can have its sized so reduced that it can be installed on the existing factory or warehouse without any difficulty.Moreover, the loading apparatus has its most portion supported by the stationary post 311 so that its installation is facilitated.

According to this fourth embodiment, moreover, since the holding mechanism 341 is equipped with the push member 344, the deformations of the articles B and the unbalance of the loads when the bag-shaped articles B are to be transferred can be corrected so that the piled articles B can enjoy a satisfactory appearance while being prevented from dropping to pieces.

According to the fourth embodiment, furthermore, since the holding mechanism 341 can be rotated in the horizontal plane, the articles B held thereby can have their direction changed so that they can be piled on various piling patterns.

Figs. 1 8 and 1 9 show a fifth embodiment of the pallet loading apparatus according to the present invention.

Here, this fifth embodiment basically has similar constructions and operations to those of the foregoing second or fourth embodiment, and accordingly the following description is restricted to the different portion, i.e., the holding mechanism.

Reference numeral 441 appearing in Figs.

1 8 and 1 9 generally indicates a holding mechanism which may be suspended from the carriage 131 or 331, as is different from the holding mechanism 141 or 341 exemplified in the foregoing second or fourth embodiment.

This holding mechanism 441 is constructed to include a supporting frame 442, which is suspended from the carriage 131 or 331, a pair of scooping members 443, which are attached to that supporting frame 442 at both its lower side portions, and a push member 444 which is disposed below the aforementioned supporting frame 442 between those scooping members 443. This push member 444 and the aforementioned two scooping members 443 are connected by means of a later-described coacting mechanism 445 so that the push member 444 is made to coact when the scooping members 443 are driven.

The aforementioned supporting frame 442 is so suspended from the lower portion of the aforementioned carriage 131 or 331 by means of a shaft 446 that it can freely rotate in a horizontal plane, and is driven to rotate by the action of a not-shown drive mechanism.

Each of the scooping members 442 at both sides is constructed to include a plate member 451 and a plurality of generally L-shaped supporting pawls 452 which are secured to the leading end portion of 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 aforementioned plate members 451 to 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 oneside end portions of drive arms 455 having their other end portions, to which there are hinged the leading end portions of the piston rods of air cylinders 456 hinged to the front and rear side portions of the aforementioned supporting frame 442. By synchronously actuating the front and rear air cylinders 456 to protrude and retract their piston rods, the pivot pins 452 at both sides are rotated to open and close the scooping members 443 at both sides.

To the aforementioned both-side pivot pins 453, still moreover, there are secured respective arms 457 which are hingedly connected by means of a connecting lever 458 so that the pivot pins 453 are enabled to rotate in complete synchronism with each other. As a result, the scooping members 443 at both sides are completely synchronized and can be driven, too, by one of the air cylinders 456.

The aforementioned push member 444 is constructed such that round rods 461 at both sides are connected by means of a pair of front and rear plate members 462. From 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 fitted. Into the upper end portions of both the sliding rods 463, there are screwed a pair of nuts 465 which act as stoppers.

Moreover, coil springs 466 are sandwiched between the aforementioned sleeves and plate members 464 and 462.

In this fifth embodiment, furthermore, the aforementioned push member 444 is so suspended directly from the aforementioned coacting mechanism 445 that it can move up and down. Specifically, that coacting mechanism 445 is constructed such that retaining pins 471 are formed to project from the inner end portions of the rocker arms 454 to which the aforementioned both-side scooping members 443 are attached, and such 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 464 which support the aforementioned push member 444 in a vertically movable manner.

Thus, when the aforementioned both-side scooping members 443 are opened, the inner end portions of the rocker arms 454 rock downward. As a result, the engagement pins 471 push down the engagement plates 473 while moving in the slots 472 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 the 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 moving in the slots 472 so that the sleeves 464 pull up the plate members 462 of the push member 444 through the paired nuts 465 and the sliding rods 463.

Next, the operations of the fifth embodiment thus constructed will be described in the following.

Upon the following description, incidentally, let is be assumed that 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 is disposed at the carrying-in unit 302.

Then, the lift 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 article B thereby to rearrange the article B. After that, the air cylinders 456 are actuated to protrude their piston rods so that the both-side scooping members 443 are closed to scoop up and hold the article B and so that the push member 444 is moved up.

At this time, the push member 444 is brought by the suitable pressure of the springs 466 into abutment contact with the article B so that the article B is prevented from being broken, and is moved up in accordance with the closing operations of the scooping members 443 so that the scooping and holding operations of the article B is not obstructed.

Next, the lift 312 is moved up, and the transverse trolley 321 is moved forward along the lift 312. If necessary, moreover, the carriage 331 is moved to the left along the transverse trolley 321, and the holding mechanism 441 is rotated. Thus, the article B held by the holding mechanism 441 is positioned above a predetermined piling position of the pallet P which is placed on the carrying-out unit 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 the article B.

Next, the lift 31 2 is moved down so that the push member 444 is brought to abut against the center portion of the upper side of the article B transferred 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 supporting pawls 452 of the scooping members 443, there is no fear that the supporting pawls 452 may contact with the article B which has been transferred to the adjacent position.

Next, the lift 312 is moved up, and the transverse trolley 321 is moved backward. If necessary, moreover, the carriage 331 is moved to the right, and the holding mechanism 441 is rotated to a position above the stand-by conveyor 304.

Moreover, the operations thus far described are successibely performed to transfer a predetermined number of articles B onto the predetermined 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 the operations thus far described, incidentally, in case the article B is to be arranged on the pallet P of the carrying-out unit 303, the push member 444 can be brought to abut against the center portion of the upper side of the article B without any descent of the lift 31 2 by making sufficient long the ascending and descending stroke of the push member 444 in accordance with the opening and closing operations of the scooping members 443.

As has been described herein before, 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 of the supporting frame 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 can be so attached easily as to freely rotate in the horizontal plane. Still moreover the holding mechanism 441 can have its weight reduced. Furthermore, the ascent and descent of the push member 444 can be simply controlled because they are synchronized in a mechanical manner with the opening and closing operations of the scooping members by means of the coacting mechanism 445.

The description of the specific embodiments exemplifying the pallet loading apparatus for loading the bag-shaped articles is ended.

However, the practice of this loading apparatus should not be limited to the foregoing two fourth and fifth embodiments, but the present invention can be practised not only by the constre ction, in which the holding mechanism is moved in three directions, i.e., in the verti cal, horizontal and transverse directions but also by a construction, in which the holding mechanism is moved in a vertical direction and in one horizontal direction. In the latter case, the articles are held row by row.

Claims (16)

1. A pallet loading apparatus comprising: a post erected upright in the vicinity of carrying-in and carrying-out units which are disposed adjacent to each other; a lift elongated in a horizontal direction along said carrying-in and carrying-out units 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 units; and a holding mechanism suspended from the lower side of said transverse trolley.

2. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holding mechanism includes a pair of clamping members both driven to move toward and away from each other for clamping together a box-shaped article from both sides of the same.

3. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the paired clamping members of said holding mechanism are so driven by a cylinder as to move back and forth in synchronism with each other.

4. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holding mechanism includes a pair of clamping members for clamping together a box-shaped article from both the sides of the same, one of said clamping members being driven to move toward and away from the other.

5. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 2, 3 or 4, 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.

6. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holding mechanism includes a pair of scooping members for scooping up a bag-shaped article from both sides of the same.

7. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said holding mechanism further includes a push member made movable up and down between said paired scooping members.

8. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 7, 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.

9. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein said holding mechanism is so suspended from said transverse trolley that it can rotate in a horizontal plane.

10. A pallet loading apparatus comprising: a post erected upright in the vicinity of carrying-in and carrying-out units which are disposed adjacent to each other; a lift elongated in a horizontal direction along said carrying-in and carrying-out units 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 carryingin and carrying-out units; 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.

11. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said holding mechanism includes a pair of clamping members both driven to move toward and away from each other for clamping together a box-shaped article from both the sides of the same.

1 2. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the paired clamping members of said holding mechanism are so driven by a cylinder as to move back and forth in synchronism with each other.

1 3. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said holding mechanism includes a pair of clamping members for clamping together a box-shaped article from both sides of the same, one of said clamping members being driven to move and away from the other.

14. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 11, 1 2 or 13, 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, for supporting the article between said clamping members from the lower side of the same.

1 5. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said holding mechanism includes a pair of scooping members for scooping up a bag-shaped article from both sides of the same.

16. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said holding mechanism further includes a push member made movable up and down between said paired scooping members.

1 7. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 16, 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.

1 8. A pallet loading apparatus as set forth in claim 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17, wherein said holding mechanism is so suspended from said carriage that it can rotate in a horizontal plane.

1 9. Pallet loading apparatus, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.