GB2120198A

GB2120198A - Pallet loading apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2120198A
Application number: GB08312567A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Hattensperger
Original assignee: Schaefer Foerderanlagen und Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: Schaefer Foerderanlagen und Maschinenbau GmbH
Priority date: 1982-05-19
Filing date: 1983-05-06
Publication date: 1983-11-30
Also published as: GB8312567D0; DE3219015A1

Abstract

An apparatus for loading pallets with articles (3) comprises a carrying element (7) which receives articles from a supply station (5) when located at a transfer station (6) and which subsequently moves over a pallet at a pallet loading station (10), and a pusher (14) which displaces articles at the supply station (5) onto the carrying element (7) and which also strips articles from the carrying element at the pallet loading station (10). The pusher (14) includes elements (17, 18) which may be independently extended to provide a stepped pushing or stripping surface. The carrying element (7) and the pusher (14) are mounted for vertical displacement to permit the stacking of articles on the pallet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for loading pallets The invention relates to an apparatus for loading pallets with general articles, with a feed track for the general articles, a pallet-loading station and a transfer region which is located next to these two and in which there is a carrying element which is intended for transferring the general articles onto the pallet and which, after the general articles have been received, moves over the pallets and deposits them there, after they have been supported by a movable holding-up device, by retracting relative to the latter.

An apparatus of the type just mentioned is known from German Offenlegungsschrift 2,620,535. Roliers onto which the general articles run are located at the unloading end of the feed track. In this transfer region, they wait to be transferred onto the pallet.

The carrying element is designed as a bar rake. For the general articles to be received, the bar rake moves between the rollers and lifts off the general articles. Subsequently, the carrying element moves over the predetermined place of the pallet. It is lowered there until only a slight vertical distance still has to be covered when the general articles are subsequently deposited either on the pallet itseif or on general articles already stacked on it.

The holding-up device is mounted, together with the bar rake, on a movable stand and can itself be extended in relation to the bar rake. For the general articles to be deposited 6n the pallet, the stand, together wit the supporting element, in fact moves backwards while the holding-up device moves forward to the same extend, so that it seems to remain stationary and in place. Because the two parts move in opposite directions to one another, the carrying element is drawn away from under the newly delivered general articles. At the same time, the holding-up device holds them firmly.

The known apparatus has a relatively complicated construction and also has the disadvantage that the general articles can be stacked in a composite structure in a relatively simple way only. The capacity is low.

The object on which the present invention is based is to provide an apparatus of the type mentioned in the introduction, which has a simplified construction and which affords the possibility of a versatile arrangement of the composite stack structure.

This object is achieved, according to the invention, due to the fact that the holding-up device is designed at the same time as a slide sweeping over the unloading end of the feed track and has a guide which extends from the feed track over the transfer region up to the pallet-loading station.

The apparatus according to the invention has a simple construction. The holding-up device serves initially to push the general articles arriving at the unloading end of the feed track from the feed track onto the carrying element. On the feed track, the general articles can already be arranged appropri ately with a view to a desired position within the stack or a specially provided composite stack structure, so that the selected positioning is maintained when the general articles are transferred from the feed track onto the carrying element and subsequently onto the pallet. Consequently, prior orientation already takes place on the feed track.

The holding-up device is mounted so as to be movable along its guide both over the feed track and the transfer region of the carrying element and over the pallet-loading station. This simplifies the construction of the apparatus, but also its operation. The holding-up device use at the outset as a slide can secure the general articles against being shifted sideways during transport by means of the carrying element. This allows exact positioning of the general articles in predetermined unloading locations and precise alignment of the general articles so as to form a strictly cuboid pallet structure.

When the general articles are deposited on the pallet or on articles already located on it, the holding-up device is used to support the articles during the removal of the carrying element. The exact place where the articles are deposited is determined by the holding point of the holding-up device. Because the holding-up device moves in the same direction during the time when the articles are pushed onto the carrying element and because they are supported when being deposited on the pallet, the construction of the apparatus and the transport flow are simplified. As a result of the prior orientation of the articles on the feed track, it is possible to stack them with a gap in the feed direction.If it is also intended to arrange the articles on the pallet with a gap transversely to the feed direction, that is to say in the direction of movement of the slide, then this can be achieved easily by appropriate positioning of the holding point of the holding-up device on the pallet.

An especially simple guidance of the holding-up device is obtained when the unloading end of the feed track, the transfer region and the pallet-loading station are arranged in a straight line of transport and when this is aligned transversely to the direction of transport of the feed track.

For the purpose of arranging all the composite formations which arise, it is envisaged, in a favourable development of the invention, that the holdingup device should have, to form a stepped supporting surface, at least one slide elements which can be positioned differently relative to one another in a horizontal direction. A base surface of the holdingup device, which is combined with an additional slide, can serve as a slide element. However, two additional slides movable relative to one another can also be provided from the outset. To achieve fully automatic formation of the composite stack structure, it is favourable if the slide elements are designed as additional slides which can be controlled separately.

An exemplary embodiment is described below with reference to a drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of an apparatus, according to to the invention for the loading of pallets, Figure 2 shows a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a plan view of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, Figures 4to 6show a first composite stack structure, and, Figures 7to 9 show a second composite stack structure.

Figures 1 to 3 show an apparatus 1 for loading pallets 2 with general articles 3. In the present case, the articles each have an identical cuboid shape.

They represent, for example, cardboard packing cases for drinks.

The cases are to be stacked on the pallet 2 in a composite formation, since this allows better interlinking of the articles on the pallet and thus increases the stability of the loaded pallet. The surface area of the pallet 2 is grater than the sum of the surface areas of the articles to be arranged in a layer. To provide the pallet with continuous outer edges, the articles will therefore be arranged on the pallet with gaps between them, as is evident from Figure 3 by reference to the distances a) and b).

The apparatus incorporates a feed track 4 which is designed, for example, as a conventional conveyor belt. The unloading end 5 is equipped with a stopping point which automatically switches off the belt when an article assumes a predetermined position at the unloading end. The direction of transport of the conveyor belt is indicated in Figure 3 by the arrow T. The feed track 4 serves for providing individual articles or a series of articles intended for forming a layer on the pallet. In Figure 2, for example, two articles directed with their longitudinal extensions transverse to one another are arranged in succession in a series, and the distance a) is present between them in the direction of transport T. This distance is maintained even when the series is subsequently transferred to form a pallet layer.

Transversely to the direction of transport T, a carrying element 7 in the form of a carrying plate is located, in a transfer region 6, next to the unloading end 5 of the feed track. The carrying plate has an area which is larger than the expected area of a series of articles, but smaller than the surface area of the pallet 2. The carrying plate is so rigid that it can carry all the articles which can be arranged on it.

As may be seen in Figure 3, it is located immediately next to the unloading end of the feed track and is separated from this only by a narrow gap. The position illustrated is the transfer position for the transfer of articles from the feed track. The carrying plate is therefore arranged at the same height as the upper side of the feed track.

The carrying element is mounted at its rear end in a lifting carriage 8. The lifting carriage can move vertically so that the carrying plate can be arranged at the desired height for stacking.

The carrying element 7 is additionally mounted horizontally on a guide 9 which extends from the outer-most end of the feeder track 4, over the unloading end of the latter and the transfer region 6 up to an opposite outermost end of a pallet-loading station 10 which is likewise arranged transversely in the direction of transport T next to the transfer region 6. The guide is designed as a simple bar guide. It has assigned to it a spindle drive 11 which can move the carrying element horizontally along the guide.

Located in a similar arrangement above the guide 9 and the spindle drive 11 are a guide 12 and a spindle drive 13 for a holding-up device 14. This is located on the side of the unloading end 5 of the feed track 4 opposite the transfer region 6, but only as long as it is not in operation. The holding-up device is designed at the same time as a slide sweeping over the unloading end 5. Since its guide 13 is connected rigidly to that of the carrying element by means of a vertical tie 15, the carrying plate and the holding-up device always move to the same extent in a vertical direction. It can be seen from Figure 2 that the holding-up device is located art a distance above the carrying element. This distance depends on the height of the articles to be conveyed.

In contrast to this, the holding-up device can move independently of the carrying element 7 in a horizontal direction. It therefore has its own spindle drive 12.

Because of the guide which projects a long way, it can also sweep over the transfer region 6 and the pallet-loading station 10 next to the unloading end 5 of the feed track 4. This is described in more detail below. It should first be noted, however that in the case illustrated the holding-up device has, to form a stepped supporting surface, at least two slide elements 16 and 17 which can be positioned differently relative to one another in a horizontal direction. The elements are designed as additional slides which can be controlled separately. In the retracted position of readiness shown in Figure 3, they form, together with a local fixed supporting surface 18, a plane base surface G parallel to the direction of transport T.

If the articles are to be positioned offset relative to one another on the pallet, it is possible to adjust the additional slides in any arrangement relative to one another, in order thereby to obtain a stepped formation transverse to the direction of transport T in the positioning of the articles.

When the apparatus according to the invention is in operation, the articles are first delivered individually or in a series in the direction of transportT by the feed track 4. At the unloading end 5, they are retained in place by means of the stopping point when the end position is reached because the conveyor belt is switched off.

The articles are already arranged on the feed track 4 with their longitudinal extensions oriented to the desired extent. Insofar as there is to be a gap between two adjacent articles in the direction T, this was already taken into account when the articles were placed on the feed belt, so that articles to be stacked at the same time arrive at the unloading end already with the correct gaps.

The carrying element 7 is arranged at the same height as the feed track 4. Because of the rigid vertical coupling of the holding-up device to the carrying element, the holding-up device is therefore also arranged at the correct height at the same time.

At the start of the loading operation it is in the right-hand position of readiness shown in Figure 3.

To transfer the articles onto the carrying element, its spindle drive is set in motion, whereupon the holding-up device moves to the left and pushes the articles from the feed track onto the carrying plate arranged transversely in the straight line of transport. A possible gap a) existing between the articles is preserved during this time.

When the articles are located individually or in a series on the carrying plate, the latter moves further, together with the holding-up device as if they are a single unit, in the direction of the pallet-loading station 10. At the same time, the holding-up device secures the articles towards the side and prevents them from falling off.

When the stack has grown to such an extent that the carrying element cannot immediately move sideways over the pallet-loading station from the transfer position shown, it is, of course, first necessary to match the height of the already existing stack by moving the lifting carriage 8 vertically upwards in the apparatus stand. The unit consisting of the carrying plate and holding-up device can move over the pallet-moving station only when this presents no difficulties in terms of height. For the purpose of depositing the articles, the carrying plate is positioned above the pallet or above articles already stacked on it, in such a way that when the articles are actually deposited they only have to cover a minimum vertical distance.When the articles are located in the intended place within a layerto be formed, the carrying element is moved back laterally into the transfer region as a result of the operation of its own spindle drive. In the meantime, the holding-up device comes firmly up against the articles and prevents them from following the pulling-out movement of the carrying plate. The position of the articles transversely to the direction of transport T is determined by the exact holding point of the holding-up device.

The articles are deposited on the pallet, and possible predetermined gaps a) are also preserved, as is evident from Figures 1,2 and 3. Inasmuch as gaps b) transverse to the direction of transport Tare desired, this can be obtained by defining the holding point of the holding-up device appropriately when the articles are deposited on the pallet or on the already existing stack.

The slide elements are provided for special com posite formations.

Figures 4to 6 illustrate a first example of a composite stack structure. For the sake of simplicity, the carrying element 7 and the holding-up device 14 equipped with the two additional slide elements 16 and 17 are shown merely diagramatically in a plan view. The pallet 2 is indicated by a broken line.

As a result of the advance of the slide element 17, the articles 3 illustrated, which are arranged with their longitudinal extensions in a L-shaped forma tion in a series and with a gap a), are positioned relative to one another so that they form the outside of the pallet stack respectively with the longer and the shorter sides of the rectangles. To obtain the desired stepped supporting surface of the holding up device, in Figure 4 the slide element 17 only is extended; the slide element 16 is in the retracted basic position G and therefore in the plane of the supporting surface 18.

In Figure 5, both slide elements are in the said basic position G. Only the slide element 17 serves for arranging the article 3 in the hitherto open corner of the two articles 3 arranged on the pallet in the first loading operation.

To conclude the filling of the surface area of the pallet, two further articles 3, in the converse L-form, are pushed laterally against the existing articles in a mirror-image of te arrangement in Figure 4, and this time, in the same way as in the loading operation of Figure 5, both slide elements 16 and 17 are aligned in the basic position G.

In the loading operation described, three articles were arranged with their longitudinal sides parallel to one another, whilst the longer rectangle sides of two further articles adjoin the shorter rectangle sides of the three existing articles.

A similar loading operation is illustrated in Figures 7 to 9, a positioning of the articles which is a mirror-image of Figure 6 being finally obtained. For this reason, in the loading operation of Figures 7 to 9, the slide elements are controlled in a similar way to that of the operation of Figures 4 to 6.

In the loading operations illustrated in Figures 4 to 9, the articles are likewise stacked with gaps. However, whereas gaps a) in the direction of transport T and gaps b) in the transverse direction to this are provided between the articles in the stack produced according to Figures 4 to 6, only gaps b) are provided in the stack according to Figures 7 to 9, so that the articles butt respectively against one another in the direction of the shorter rectangle side of the pallet.

Whereas the gaps a) are already provided on the feed belt, the gaps b) are created, when the articles or a series of articles are deposited on the pallet, by means of appropriate final positioning of the holding-up device. The fore-going statements make it clear that it is possible, according to the invention, to produce a pallet stack without any gaps between the articles of a particular layer. Inasmuch as there are any gaps, these can be provided in the direction of the arrow T (gaps a)) and/or in a transverse direction to this (gaps b)).

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment illustrated. The feed track can be designed, for example, as a simple article supply station. There, the articles can be arranged either individually for transfer or in series. The way in which the pallet layers can be composed from the series by means of the transfer has already been explained.

Claims

1. Apparatus for loading pallets with general articles, with a feed track for the general articles, a pallet-loading station and a transfer region which is located next to these two and in which there is a carrying element which is intended for transferring the general articles onto the pallet and which, after the general articles have been received, moves over the pallets and deposits them there, after they have been supported by a movable holding-up device, by retracting relative to the latter, characterised in that the holding-up device (14) is designed at the same time as a slide sweeping over the unloading end (5) of the feed track (4) and has a guide (9) which extends from the feed track (4) over the transfer region (6) up to the pallet-loading station (10).

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the carrying element has a surface area which is at least as large as the area of a series of general articles intended for the pallet, but is at most as large as the surface area of a pallet.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterised in that the line of transport is aligned transversely to the direction of transport (T) of the feed track (4).

4. Apparatus according to at least one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the holding-up device (14) has, to form a stepped supporting surface, at least two slide elements (16, 17, 18) which can be positioned differently relative to one another in a horizontal direction.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterised in that the slide elements (16, 17) are designed as additional slides which can be controlled separately.

6. Apparatus for loading pallets substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.