GB2174357A - Apparatus for use in the inverting of goods - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus (2) for use in the inverting of goods (4), which apparatus (2) comprises a frame (10) and a goods container (22) which is mounted on the frame (10), the goods container (22) having first and second end members (24, 26), a side wall member, and a rear wall member (40), the first and second end members (24, 26) both being slidable towards each other to trap the goods, the goods container (22) being rotatable through 180 degrees, and at least the first end member (24) being slidable substantially down to ground level for ease of goods loading. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for use in the handling of goods This invention relates to apparatus for use in the handling of goods. The apparatus may be used for transferring goods from a first pallet to a second pallet. Alternatively, the apparatus may be used for turning goods upside down to facilitate, for example, the treatment of both sides of a product or the mixing or blending of liquids or powdered substances.

It is well known to stack tins, boxes, sacks or packages of goods on pallets in order to facilitate the movement of the goods from one location to another. The pallets are often transferred within factories and warehouses by means of specially constructed trucks. It often occurs that it is desired to transfer the goods from a first pallet to a second pallet. It is generally time-consuming and non-productive to transfer the goods manually from the first pallet to the second pallet and, because of this, various types of apparatus have been produced for transferring goods from a first pallet to a second pallet.

Most of the known types of apparatus have some type of goods container which is mounted on a frame. The goods container has a floor member, a side wall member, a rear wall member and a lid member. The lid member is slidable towards the floor member, the floor member being fixed. Goods can be sandwiched between first and second pallets and the first and the second pallets can then be sandwiched between the floor member and the lid member by sliding the lid member towards the floor member. It will be apparent that on rotation of the goods container through 180 degrees, the goods can be transferred from resting on the first pallet to resting on the second pallet and, in this condition, the first pallet can then be removed for a desired use.Because the known apparatus can rotate through 1800, it is sometimes also used to turn a stack of goods upside down to facilitate, for example, the treatment of both sides of a product or the mixing or blending of liquids or powdered substances.

With the known apparatus, problems can sometimes be encountered due to the fact that the floor member is fixed and it often does not extend sufficiently near to ground level. Difficulty can then be experienced in loading the goods on to the floor member.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the abovementioned problem by providing apparatus in which the floor member and the lid member are in the form of first and second end members which are both slidable, at least one of these two slidable first and second end members being slidable sufficiently far down that it can slide substantially to ground level.

Accordingly, this invention provides apparatus for use in the handling of goods, which apparatus comprises a frame and a goods container which is mounted on the frame, the goods container having first and second end members, a side wall member, and a rear wall member, the first and the second end members both being slidable towards each other to trap the goods, the goods container being rotatable through 1800, and at least the first end member being slidable substantially down to ground level for ease of goods loading.

If it is desired to use the apparatus of the invention for transferring goods from a first pallet to a second pallet, then it will be appreciated that the first and second end members will both be slidable towards each other to trap the goods between the first and the second pallets, so that after the 180' rotation, the goods will have been transferred from resting on the first pallet to resting on the second pallet.

It will be appreciated that if only the first member is slidable substantially down to ground level, it will be necessary to move the apparatus of the invention through another 180' after each use to return the first end member to the lowermost position. In order to avoid this, it is preferred that both the first and the second end members are slidable substantially down to ground level for ease of pallet loading when either the first or the second end member is adjacent the ground.

Usually, the apparatus of the invention will be such that the goods container rotates forwards and backwards over 180', the goods container being rotatable forwards over one half of a circle for one goods handling operation and being rotatable backwards over the same half of a circle for another goods handling operation.

The apparatus of the invention may include a pair of hydraulic rams, there being one hydraulic ram for each of the first and the second members.

The first and the second members may each slide along a pair of guide channels formed in the rear wall member of the goods container.

Usually, the side wall member will be permanently secured to the rear wall member.

Thus, for example, the side wall member may be welded to the rear wall member.

The first and second end members are preferably reinforced. The first and the second end members may be reinforced with reinforcing webs. The reinforcing webs may be welded in position.

The side wall member is also preferably reinforced. The side wall member may be reinforced with reinforcing webs and these reinforcing webs may be welded into position.

The rear wall member is also preferably reinforced and it is preferably reinforced with box channel section material.

The frame may be provided with a pair of horizontally extending legs which extend beyond the edge of the first member remote from the rear wall member, the horizontally extending legs giving the apparatus good stability.

The apparatus of the invention may include rotation means for rotating the goods container.

The rotation means may comprise a pair of oppositely rotatable wheels. The wheels may be connected by a chain arrangement. The chain arrangement may comprise two pairs of chains.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view from the front and one side of the apparatus for transferring goods from a first pallet to a second pallet, the apparatus being in the act of anticlockwise rotation; Figure 2 is a view from the rear and one side of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the apparatus being shown in Figure 2 in a fully rotated position; Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, looking from left to right and with the apparatus in its non-rotated position; Figure 4 is a front view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a front view of part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a side view, partly in section, of the part of the apparatus shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown apparatus 2 for transferring goods 4 from a first pallet 6 to a second pallet 8.

The apparatus 2 comprises a free standing frame 10. The frame 10 comprises a pair of horizontally extending members 12,14 which are hollow as shown and which are provided with reinforcing webs 16 as shown. The frame 10 also has a pair of inclined members 18,20 positioned at the back of the apparatus 2.

A goods container 22 is mounted on the frame 10. The goods container 22 has first and second end members 24,26 respectively.

As can be seen from the drawings, the first and second end members 24,26 each have strengthening webs 28,30. As shown, the webs 28 extend from the back of the apparatus 2 towards the front of the apparatus 2, whilst the webs 30 extend transversely of the apparatus 2.

The goods container 22 also comprises a side wall member 32 which is provided with reinforcing webs 34,36 as shown in detail in Figure 4. The side wall member 32 is also provided with a V-shaped portion 38, also as shown in detail in Figure 4.

The goods container 22 further comprises a rear wall member 40. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rear wall member 40 is reinforced by box section channel members 42.

The first and the second end members 24,26 are slidable towards and away from each other as shown in Figures 1 and 4. More specifically, the first end member 24 slides in a pair of guide channels 44,46. The second end member 26 slides in a pair of guide channels 48,50. As shown in broken lines at the top of Figure 3, the second end member 26 (and also the first end member 24) are secured to a pair of arms 52. There is one arm 52 for sliding in each of the guide channels 44,46, 48,50. The arms 52 are are connected to hydraulic rams (not shown) for raising and lowering the first and second end members 24,26 as may be required to trap between them first and second pallets 6,8 and goods 4 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. There is one hydraulic ram for raising and lowering the first end member 24, and there is another hydraulic ram for raising and lowering the second end member 26.

The inclined members 18,20 of the frame 10 support an axle 54 about which the goods container 22 rotates. The actual rotation of the goods container 22 is effected by rotation means 56 as shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6. The rotation means 56 comprise a pair of wheels 58,60. The wheel 58 is twice the diameter of the wheel 60. The wheel 58 rotates through 90 degrees in an anti-clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 62, and the wheel 60 rotates 180 degrees in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 64. The wheel 58 is caused to rotate by the pulling action of reciprocating ram 66 which is joined to the wheel 58 by a pivot bolt 68. The pivot bolt 68 is held in position by a pair of nuts 70. As shown in Figure 6, the wheel 58 has a pair of spaced apart sides 72,74 and a hub 76. The hub 76 rotates about a shaft 78. The shaft 78 is supported by a back plate 80.A lug 82 is welded to the wheel 58 so that it projects beyond the circumference of the wheel 58 as shown. A bolt 84 passes through an aperture in the lug 82, and the bolt is retained in position by a pair of nuts 86,88. A chain 90 is attached to one end 92 of the bolt 84. The other end of the chain 90 is secured to a lug 94 welded to the wheel 60. The nuts 86,88 can be tightened to draw the bolt 84 through the lug 82 and so tighten the chain 90. The chain 90 causes the wheel 60 to rotate one way through 180 degrees when the ram 66 pulls the wheel 58 through 90 degrees. Another chain 96 (shown in broken lines and offset from the chain 90) extends between lugs 98,100 and enables the wheels 58,60 to be rotated back the other way to their start position, again using the ram 66 with its pulling action. In actual practice, it is preferred to use two chains 90 and two chains 96 in case one chain of each pair should break. Thus the wheel and chain ar cangement is effective to rotate the goods container 22 backwards and forwards through 180 degrees, the rotation being shown schematically by the line 102 in Figure 4.

A cover 103 covers the wheel and chain arrangement. An electric motor 105 provides the turning power for turning the goods container 22. A tank 107 for hydraulic liquid and a valve block 109 form part of the hydraulic circuit.

It will be apparent that in use, the pallet container 22 can be rotated through 180 degrees so that goods 4 resting on the first pallet 6, when rotated through 180 degrees, will then be resting on the pallet 8. The first pallet 6 can then be removed and used for a desired purpose.

The apparatus 2 is particularly advantageous in that both the first and the second end members 24,26 can slide in their guide channels 44,46,48,50 substantially right down to floor level and this greatly facilitates loading of goods 4 on a pallet such as the first pallet 6 into the goods container 22 and onto either the first end member 24 or the second end member 26, depending upon which end member is lowermost at the time. A low ramp 104 may be used as a run-up to the first and second end members 24,26 since the first and second end members 24,26 do not extend right down to ground level. As the goods 4 are loaded on the pallets and as the goods container 22 rotates, the apparatus 2 is given good stability by forwardly projecting legs 58.

Although not shown in detail, a safety device is provided so that the goods container 22 cannot rotate until such time as the lowermost end member 24 or 26 is sufficiently high above ground level that it will not hit the ground during the rotation of the goods container 22.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the shape of the frame 10 may be different from that illustrated. For example, the frame 10 shown in the drawings enables the first and second end members 24,26 to be lowered to 105 mm from the ground, but this height can be reduced still further by reducing the height of the understructure parts of the frame 10. The hydraulic devices utilised in the apparatus 2 can be replaced by electrical, pneumatic or manual devices. Further, the apparatus 2 can be used in the handling of goods otherwise than for transferring the goods from the first pallet 6 to the second pallet 8. Thus, for example, the apparatus 2 can be used for turning goods upside down to facilitate the treatment of both sides of a product or the mixing or blending of liquids or powdered substances. Also, although the apparatus 2 has been shown as being free standing and thus movable, the apparatus 2 can be secured to a wall or other support so that it is not free standing and so that it cannot readily be moved. The apparatus 2 can be arranged to operate with clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the goods container 22 as may be desired. Although the chain and wheel arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6 is preferred, other rotation means such as, for example, rack and pinion arrangements, sprocket and bar arrangements, and endless belt arrangements may be employed if desired.

Claims (14)

1. Apparatus for use in the handling of goods, which apparatus comprises a frame and a goods container which is mounted on the frame, the goods container having first and second end members, a side wall member, and a rear wall member, the first and second end members both being slidable towards each other to trap the goods, the goods container being rotatable through 180 degrees, and at least the first end member being slidable substantially down to ground level for ease of goods loading.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which both the first and the second end members are slidable substantially down to ground level for ease of goods loading when either the first or the second end member is adjacent the ground.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the goods container only rotates forwards and backwards over 180 degrees.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a pair of hydraulic rams, there being one hydraulic ram for each of the first and the second members.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and the second members each slide along a pair of guide channels formed in the rear wall member of the goods container.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the side wall member is permanently secured to the rear wall member.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and the second end members are reinforced.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the side wall member is reinforced.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the rear wall member is reinforced.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the frame has a pair of horizontally extending legs which extend beyond the edge of the first member remote from the rear wall member, the horizontally extending legs giving the apparatus good stability.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including rotation means for rotating the goods container.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the rotation means comprises a pair of oppositely rotatable wheels.

13 Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the wheels are connected bv a chain arrangement.

14. Apparatus for use in the handling of goods, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings