IE64547B1 - A method and apparatus for processing granular material - Google Patents

Abstract

The device includes a pallet magazine (2) for receiving a magazine or bank of empty pallets (3), and a palletiser (12) for palletising bags of granular material. There is a pallet waiting station (10) between the pallet magazine and the palletiser. There is a single pallet transfer member for transferring a single pallet from the pallet magazine to the waiting station. The single pallet transfer member has a lifting member for raising the magazine of empty pallets, and a clamp member for clamping the pallets above the lowermost pallet in a raised position. There are members for retracting the lifting member thereby releasing a first lowermost pallet from the magazine of empty pallets. There are also conveyors for translating the first pallet to the waiting section and for transferring the first pallet to the palletiser, the first pallet being dropped onto the conveyor on retraction of the lifting member when the clamp is engaged.

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus for processing granular material and in particular to an apparatus for packing granular fertilizer material. The invention also relates to a method of processing granular fertilizer material utilising the apparatus of the invention.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for packing granular material comprising: a pallet magazine for receiving a magazine or bank of empty pallets; a palletiser for palletising bags of granular material; a pallet waiting station between the pallet magazine .and the palletiser; and single pallet transfer means for transferring a 15 single pallet from the pallet magazine to the « waiting station; the single pallet transfer means comprising : lifting means for raising the magazine of empty pallets; clamp means for clamping the pallets above the lowermost pallet in a raised position; means for retracting the lifting means thereby releasing a first lowermost pallet from the magazine of empty pallets; and conveyor means for translating the first pallet to the waiting station and for transferring the first pallet to the palletiser, the first pallet being dropped onto the conveyor means on retraction of the lifting means when the clamp means is engaged.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the clamp means of the single pallet transfer means engages the next empty pallet above the lowermost pallet in the pallet magazine.

Preferably the clamp means comprises a ram means which is extended to clamp the pallet above the lowermost pallet in the raised position.

In one embodiment of the invention the lifting means comprises a pair of spaced-apart risers which are extended by a ram means to lift the magazine of empty pallets above the conveyor means.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus includes pallet magazine transfer means for delivery of a bank of empty pallets into the pallet magazine.

In this embodiment of the invention preferably the pallet magazine transfer means comprises a grab mechanism which is movable from a pick-up of a bank of empty pallets to a discharge position for delivering the bank of empty pallets onto the pallet magazine transfer means.

In a particularly preferred arrangement the grab mechanism comprises ram operated clamp means which travels along guides in a support framework between the pick-up and discharge positions.

In one embodiment of the invention the apparatus includes empty pallet transporting means for leading a bank of empty pallets to the pallet magazine transfer means.

In a preferred arrangement the empty pallet transporting means comprises a robotic trolley which travels along a track from an empty pallet loading station to a transfer station adjacent to the pallet magazine transfer means.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus includes control means for automatic operation of the pallet magazine transfer means to transfer a bank of pallets from the robotic trolley to the pallet magazine, said control means being activated in response to the arrival of the robotic trolley at the transfer station.

The invention also provides a method for processing granular 10 material fertilizer utilising the apparatus of the invention, the method comprising the steps of: coating the granular material with an anti-caking agent, packing the coated granular material into bags, loading a pallet magazine with empty pallets, feeding a single pallet from the magazine to a waiting station by raising the magazine of empty pallets, clamping the pallets above the lowermost pallet in a raised position, releasing the lowermost pallet from the magazine, translating the lowermost pallet to the waiting station, feeding a first pallet from the waiting station into 5 a palletiser, feeding a second pallet from the magazine to the waiting station, loading the bags of fertilizer material onto an empty first pallet, discharging a first pallet from the palletiser when full, leading the second pallet from the waiting station into the palletiser, and shrink wrapping the bags and first pallet.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the method for processing granular material fertilizer according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part of an apparatus for 5 packaging granular material according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus in operation; Fig. 6 is a side, partially cross sectional view of part of the apparatus.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on the line VII-VII in Fig. 6, and Figs. 8a and 8b are diagrammatic views illustrating the 15 operation of part of the apparatus.

. Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig. 1 thereof there is illustrated an apparatus for packaging granular material according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. Only portion of the apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 1 and comprises a pallet magazine 2 for a \ magazine of empty pallets, which in this case are transported from a bank of empty pallets 3 by an empty pallet transporting means in the form of a robotic trolley 4 which transports empty pallets from the pallet bank 3 to a transfer station 5 adjacent the pallet magazine 2. The pallets are transferred from the transfer station 5 to the magazine 2 by a grab mechanism 6 which is diagrammatically illustrated In Fig. 1 and which will be described in more detail below. A pallet from the pallet magazine 2 is fed by a pallet transfer means to a waiting station 10 and from there to a palletlser 12 to which bags 15 of granular fertilizer material are delivered for loading onto the pallet. A pallet loaded with bags of granular fertilizer material is then lead from the palletlser 12 to a shrink wrapping station 19 where the pallet and bags l are shrink wrapped for storage.

In more detail and referring particularly to Figs. 2 to 8 the pallet magazine 2 comprises a framework 20 into which a bank, in this case six empty pallets 21 are loaded by the grab mechanism 6. A support framework 25 includes side rails 26,27 defining tracks engagable by rollers 29 (see Fig. 6) for movement of the grab mechanism in the direction of the arrows A as illustrated in Fig. 2 for transfer of a bank of pallets 21 from the robot trolley 4 at the transfer station 5 to the pallet magazine 2. The rollers 29 are housed in bearing housings 28.

The grab mechanism 6 includes a pair of downwardly extending grab arms 30 which are raised and lowered by associated rams 31 which are supported in ram housings 32 mounted on grab housings 35 in which rollers 45 are mounted as illustrated in Fig. 6 for movement of the grab arms 31 in the direction of the arrows B and C in Figs. 2 and 6 by a transfer ram 40 from the closed or clamped position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4 to a release position. The release position is exaggerated for illustrative purposes. The lower housings 35 are mounted on a cross beam 46 extending between the side rails 26,27.

In operation, when the robot trolley 4 moves to the transfer station illustrated in Fig. 2 adjacent the pallet magazine 20 it activates a switch which in turn causes the grab arms 30 to move sidewardly to the trolley 4. When the grab arms 30 are above the trolley 4 the arms 30 are extended by the rams 31 to engage the bank of pallets 21 and transfer them to the pallet magazine 20. When the pallets are loaded into the magazine 20 the grab arms 30 are released and the rams 31 are retracted to raise the grab arm 30.

To transfer a pallet from the pallet magazine 20 to the waiting station 10 risers 50 are extended to raise the bank of pallets 21 into the position illustrated in Fig. 8a. To release the lowermost pallet from the bank of pallets a clamping ram 51 having a clamp arm 52 is extended to engage the pallet above the lowermost pallet 21 and clamp it into a fixed raised position as illustrated in Fig. 8a. The risers 50 are then retracted allowing the lowermost pallet 21 to fall onto a conveyor 55 which delivers the lowermost pallet 21 to the waiting station 10 for transfer to the palletiser 12. When the lowermost pallet 21a has been delivered to the waiting station 10 the risers 50 are again extended to engage the lowermost pallet in the bank of pallets remaining in the magazine. The clamping ram 51 is then released, allowing the bank of pallets 21 to fall back into the pallet magazine 2. When the pallet 21a Is delivered from the waiting station 10 to the palletiser 12 the process is repeated to deliver the lowermost pallet remaining in the magazine to the waiting station.

By providing a waiting station 10 between the pallet magazine 2 and palletiser 12 considerable processing advantages are attained. We have found that for optimum processing efficiency it is vital that the pallet is available to be fed to the palletiser on demand. Heretofore difficulties were also encountered with the pallet magazine in that, because of the generally imprecise tolerance on the pallets 21 they could easily become jammed in the pallet magazine and the processing of fertilizer granules would have to be stopped while the pallet magazine was being cleared. By providing a waiting station the processing does not have to be shut down while any difficulties with the pallet magazine are resolved as an empty pallet can be manually loaded onto a waiting station to ensure that processing can continue at all times.

The robotic trolley 4 also speeds up processing as it ensures 5 that a supply of pallets is always available for the pallet magazine or if necessary for manual loading onto the waiting station 10.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (14)

1. Apparatus for packing granular material comprising: a pallet magazine for receiving a magazine or bank of empty pallets; 5 a palletiser for palletising bags of granular material; a pallet waiting station between the pallet magazine and the palletiser; and single pallet transfer means for transferring a 10 single pallet from the pallet magazine to the waiting station; the single pallet transfer means comprising : lifting means for raising the magazine of empty pallets; 15 clamp means for clamping the pallets above the lowermost pallet in a raised position; means for retracting the lifting means thereby releasing a first lowermost pallet from the magazine of empty pallets; and conveyor means for translating the first pallet to the waiting station and for transferring the first pallet to the palletiser, the first pallet being dropped onto the conveyor means on retraction of the lifting means when the clamp means is engaged.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clamp means of the single pallet transfer means engages the next empty pallet above the lowermost pallet in the pallet magazine.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the clamp means comprises a ram means which is extended to clamp the pallet above the lowermost pallet in the raised position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the lifting means comprises a pair of spaced-apart risers which are extended by a ram means to lift the magazine of empty pallets above the conveyor means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes pallet magazine transfer means for delivery of a bank of empty pallets into the pallet magazine.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any claim 5 wherein the pallet 4 magazine transfer means comprises a grab mechanism which 5 is movable from a pick-up position for pick-up of a bank of empty pallets to a discharge position for delivering the bank of empty pallets into the pallet magazine transfer means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein .the grab 10 mechanism comprises ram operated clamp means which travels along guides in. a support framework between the pick-up and discharge positions.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the apparatus includes empty pallet transporting means for 15 leading a bank of empty pallets to the pallet magazine transfer means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the empty pallet transporting means comprises a robotic trolley which travels along a track from an empty pallet loading 20 station to a transfer station adjacent to the pallet magazine transfer means.

10. Apparatus as claimed In claim 9 including control means for automatic operation of the pallet magazine transfer means to transfer a bank of pallets from the robotic trolley to the pallet magazine, said control means being activated in response to the arrival of the robotic trolley at the transfer station.

11. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of processing granular fertilizer material using the apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, the method comprising the steps of: coating the granular material with an anti-caking agent, packing the coated granular material into bags, loading a pallet magazine with empty pallets, feeding a single pallet from the magazine to a waiting station by raising the magazine of empty pallets, clamping the pallets above the lowermost pallet in a raised position, retracting the raising means thereby releasing a first lowermost pallet from the magazine, translating the first pallet to the waiting station, feeding a first pallet from the waiting station into 5 a palletiser, feeding a second pallet from the magazine to the waiting station, loading the bags of fertilizer material onto an empty first pallet, 10 discharging a full pallet from the palletiser when full, leading the second pallet from the waiting station into the palletiser, and shrink wrapping the bags and first pallet. 15

13. A method of processing granular fertiliser material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. Granular fertilizer material whenever processed by a method as claimed in either of claims 12 or 13. Dated this 12th day of October 1990 CRUICKSHANK & CO.