US3623618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pallet storage and delivery mechanism
Assignee: C T SUPPLY CO
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Filing: 1969-10-20
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1989-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A downstacker mechanism for storing and delivering pallets one by one to a conveyor for transport thereby to a palletizer machine operative to assemble for packaging empty containers of the type commonly known as cans or tin cans. The mechanism includes a vertically oriented storage magazine in which pallets are retained in stacked juxtaposition one above another. Associated with the storage magazine are a plurality of palletsupport and delivery devices mounted for rotational movement about horizontal axes, and each having a plurality of outwardly extending fingers angularly spaced from each other for selective engagement with pallets comprising such stack thereof so as to control movement of the stack through the magazine. Motor means drivingly connected with the devices synchronously displaces the same step by step so as to cause the same to release in turn each successive lowermost pallet in the stack upon demand from a discharge conveyor onto which such pallets are delivered.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley B Shaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:05
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G59/00; B65G59/06; B65G59/061; B65G59/066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A pallet storage and delivery mechanism, comprising a vertically oriented storage magazine adapted to receive a plurality of pallets therein oriented one above another in stacked juxtaposition and having an open lower end through which pallets are delivered one by one, a pair of pallet-support and dElivery devices respectively disposed along opposite sides of said magazine and each including a wheel supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from the wheel and angularly spaced from each other by distances essentially equivalent to the center to center spacing between successive pallets in such stack and respectively engageable therewith, drive means connected with said wheels for synchronously displacing the same step by step in opposite angular directions to release each successive lowermost pallet in a stack thereof for delivery through said open lower end of the magazine while at the same time supporting the next adjacent pallet and stack thereabove and indexing the same downwardly one step within said magazine, and control means for energizing said drive means in step by step relation, each of said fingers being arcuate and curving rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the associated wheel so that the free outer end of each finger trails the inner end thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A pallet storage and delivery mechanism, comprising a vertically oriented storage magazine adapted to receive a plurality of pallets therein oriented one above another in stacked juxtaposition and having an open lower end through which pallets are delivered one by one, a pair of pallet-support and dElivery devices respectively disposed along opposite sides of said magazine and each including a wheel supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from the wheel and angularly spaced from each other by distances essentially equivalent to the center to center spacing between successive pallets in such stack and respectively engageable therewith, drive means connected with said wheels for synchronously displacing the same step by step in opposite angular directions to release each successive lowermost pallet in a stack thereof for delivery through said open lower end of the magazine while at the same time supporting the next adjacent pallet and stack thereabove and indexing the same downwardly one step within said magazine, and control means for energizing said drive means in step by step relation, each of said fingers being arcuate and curving rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the associated wheel so that the free outer end of each finger trails the inner end thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The mechanism of claim 1 and further comprising an additional pair of pallet-support and -delivery devices as aforesaid respectively disposed along the opposite sides of said magazine so that there are at least two devices on each of said opposite sides thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mechanism of claim 1 in which said drive means includes a reversible motor to enable said devices to be rotated in opposite angular directions to facilitate removal of broken pallets from said magazine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mechanism of claim 1 and further comprising a pallet-supply sensor including a switch and actuator therefor disposed along said magazine so as to sense the minimum elevation of any stack of pallets therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The mechanism of claim 1 and further comprising a discharge conveyor passing beneath said magazine so as to receive pallets delivered through said open lower end thereof, and in which said control means includes a demand sensor positioned along said discharge conveyor to determine the presence and absence of a pallet thereon beneath said magazine and energize said drive means in response to the absence of a pallet thereat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The mechanism of claim 5 and further comprising an additional pair of pallet-support and -delivery devices as aforesaid respectively disposed along the opposite sides of said magazine so that there are at least two devices on each of said opposite sides thereof, and in which said drive means includes a reversible motor to enable said devices to be rotated in opposite angular direction to facilitate removal of broken pallets from said magazine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mechanism of claim 5 and further comprising a pallet-supply sensor including a switch and actuator therefor disposed along said magazine so as to sense the minimum elevation of any stack of pallets therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a pallet storage and delivery mechanism, an upwardly extending storage magazine adapted to receive a plurality of pallets therein oriented one above another in stacked juxtaposition and having an open lower end through which pallets are delivered one after another, a pallet-support and -delivery device disposed along a side of said magazine and including a wheel supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from the wheel and angularly spaced from each other so as to be respectively engageable with successive lowermost pallets in such stack, and drive means connected with said wheel for angularly displacing the same to release from a finger engaging the same each successive lowermost pallet in a stack thereof for delivery through said open lower end of the magazine, each of said fingers being arcuate and curving rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of said wheel so that the free outer end of each finger trails the inner end thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a pallet storage and delivery mechanism, an upwardly extending storage magazine adapted to receive a plurality of pallets therein oriented one above another in stacked juxtaposition and having an open lower end through which pallets are delivered one after another, a pallet-support and -delivery device disposed along a side of said magazine and including a wheel supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from the wheel and angularly spaced from each other so as to be respectively engageable with successive lowermost pallets in such stack, and drive means connected with said wheel for angularly displacing the same to release from a finger engaging the same each successive lowermost pallet in a stack thereof for delivery through said open lower end of the magazine, each of said fingers being arcuate and curving rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of said wheel so that the free outer end of each finger trails the inner end thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The mechanism of claim 8 in which said fingers are angularly spaced from each other by distances essentially equivalent to the center to center spAcing between successive pallets in such stacks and are respectively engageable therewith so that as each lowermost pallet in a stack is released by one finger, the next adjacent pallet and stack thereabove are supported by another finger.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |