GB969661A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for transferring articles from stationary platforms to moving conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

969,661. Endless conveyers. U. D. ENGINEERING CO. Ltd. March 19, 1963 [Jan. 24, 1962], No. 2724/62. Heading B8A. An apparatus for transferring crates 45, 46 from a stationary pallet 11 on to an endless chain conveyer moving along guides 14 comprises a stand 10 for locating the pallet and a pusher 34, 34a for laterally pushing the crates on to a support 16, the latter projecting up from between and from the outside of the conveyer chains and operable to lower the crates on to the conveyer. The support 16 is pivotally mounted on a fixed part of the apparatus by means of parallel links 20, 21 and the upward vertical motion of the support is coupled with a sideways motion which in the elevated position places it next to the pallet. The support 16 is actuated by a pneumatic ram 24, pivoted at 25 to a fixed part of the apparatus and at 27 to the common pivot of a pair of toggle links 28, 29 the remote ends of which are pivoted to the support at 30a and to the fixed part of the apparatus at 30. The pusher comprises a roller mounted carriage 32 having cross-bars 35 which push the crates and which extend between two uprights of the carriage superstructure spaced apart to accommodate the pallet between them during the pushing motion. The carriage 32 is actuated by two coaxial rams 37, 39 having a common plunger, the movement of the first ram 37 causing one crate or stack of crates 46 to be deposited on the support 16 and the movement of the second ram 39 causing the deposition of the second crate on stacks of crates 45. The crates are positioned on the support 16 by means of an arresting frame 44. A pair of pulleys on the conveyer chain sprocket-wheel shaft adjacent the pallet, project up through the support 16 and above the chains to assist in moving the crates on to the chains as the support is lowered. The pallet 11 is located on the stand 10 either by inclined means 12 or by means of a pivoting frame, Fig. 5 (not shown), which locates under a lip on the pallet as the support 16 rises. The operating cycle is started by depression of a manual button, whereupon the ram 37 retracts to move the pusher 34, 34a which deposits the crates 46 on the support 16. Upon reaching the arresting means the crates and the pusher operate valve means whereby the ram 24 extends to lower the support 16 and the crates 46 are deposited on the conveyer. At the bottom of its travel, the support 16 operates valve means which cause retraction of the ram 24 and the support rises and thereby operates further valve means which cause retraction of the second pusher ram 39. The second stack of crates 45 are thus deposited on the support and are lowered as before, while the pusher operates valve means which cause the extension of both pusher rams 37, 39 and hence the pusher is fully retracted from the pallet. A reset valve is provided in case of obstruction of the pusher.