Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
483 words
An article handling system for use in removing layers of stacked articles from a pallet comprising, in combination: a. a pallet support elevator mounted on said system for supporting and elevating a loaded pallet containing a series of layers of articles with each layer separated by a slip sheet; b. conveyor means operatively supported on said article handling system adjacent said pallet support elevator and in position for receiving a layer of articles transferred thereto from the loaded pallet, said conveyor means including a first conveyor located on said article handling system for receiving a layer containing a series of depalletized articles arranged in a transverse array and for conveying said layer of articles along a first predetermined path, a second conveyor supported on said system for successively conveying each article of said series of articles along a second predetermined path, and a series of conveyors located between said first conveyor and said second conveyor, said second conveyor and said series of conveyors being parallel arranged in side by side relationship and angularly disposed across the width of said first conveyor, with the conveying surfaces of said first conveyor, said second conveyor and said series of conveyors being detailed in substantially the same plane whereby the articles can be successively transferred from one conveyor to an adjacent conveyor, and wherein angularly disposed article guide means is operatively associated with said series of conveyors for guiding successive articles from said series of conveyors onto said second conveyor; c. means supported on said article handling system adjacent said pallet elevator for receiving a slip sheet transferred thereto from said loaded pallet; d. a movable carriage supported on said article handling system for moving in a horizontal path over said slip sheet receiving means, said pallet elevator means and said conveyor means, said carriage being detailed to include a first and second support portion and wherein said first support portion is positioned over said slip sheet receiving means when said second support portion is positioned over said loaded pallet elevator means and wherein said first support portion is positioned over said loaded pallet elevator means when said second support portion is positioned over said conveyor means; e. means mounted on said first carriage support portions and operatively associated with a slip sheet separator for effecting a transfer of a slip sheet layer separator from said loaded pallet to said slip sheet receiving means during movement of said first carriage support portion from a position over said loaded pallet to a position over said slip sheet receiving means; and, f. means on said carriage second support portion operatively associated with a layer of articles on said loaded pallet for effecting a transfer of a layer of articles from said loaded pallet to said receiving conveyor during movement of said carriage second support portion from a position over said loaded pallet to a position over said receiving conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
483 words
An article handling system for use in removing layers of stacked articles from a pallet comprising, in combination: a. a pallet support elevator mounted on said system for supporting and elevating a loaded pallet containing a series of layers of articles with each layer separated by a slip sheet; b. conveyor means operatively supported on said article handling system adjacent said pallet support elevator and in position for receiving a layer of articles transferred thereto from the loaded pallet, said conveyor means including a first conveyor located on said article handling system for receiving a layer containing a series of depalletized articles arranged in a transverse array and for conveying said layer of articles along a first predetermined path, a second conveyor supported on said system for successively conveying each article of said series of articles along a second predetermined path, and a series of conveyors located between said first conveyor and said second conveyor, said second conveyor and said series of conveyors being parallel arranged in side by side relationship and angularly disposed across the width of said first conveyor, with the conveying surfaces of said first conveyor, said second conveyor and said series of conveyors being detailed in substantially the same plane whereby the articles can be successively transferred from one conveyor to an adjacent conveyor, and wherein angularly disposed article guide means is operatively associated with said series of conveyors for guiding successive articles from said series of conveyors onto said second conveyor; c. means supported on said article handling system adjacent said pallet elevator for receiving a slip sheet transferred thereto from said loaded pallet; d. a movable carriage supported on said article handling system for moving in a horizontal path over said slip sheet receiving means, said pallet elevator means and said conveyor means, said carriage being detailed to include a first and second support portion and wherein said first support portion is positioned over said slip sheet receiving means when said second support portion is positioned over said loaded pallet elevator means and wherein said first support portion is positioned over said loaded pallet elevator means when said second support portion is positioned over said conveyor means; e. means mounted on said first carriage support portions and operatively associated with a slip sheet separator for effecting a transfer of a slip sheet layer separator from said loaded pallet to said slip sheet receiving means during movement of said first carriage support portion from a position over said loaded pallet to a position over said slip sheet receiving means; and, f. means on said carriage second support portion operatively associated with a layer of articles on said loaded pallet for effecting a transfer of a layer of articles from said loaded pallet to said receiving conveyor during movement of said carriage second support portion from a position over said loaded pallet to a position over said receiving conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
In an article handling system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that slip-sheet transfer means includes a series of suction cups supported thereon for engaging a layer separator slip-sheet in position on said loaded pallet and for transferring said layer separator sheet to said slip-sheet receiving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
In an article handling system as describe in claim 1, fUrther characterized in that said layer transfer means includes a mangetic pick-up head detailed in design for effecting a pick-up and transfer of a layer of articles from said loaded pallet to said receiving conveyor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
In an article handling system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said series of conveyors are is detailed for conveying movement in the same direction as said second conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
In an article handling system as described in claim 4, further characterized in that said conveyor means includes means operatively associated with said series of conveyors and said second conveyor for maintaining a group of said transferred articles in excess of the capacity of said second conveyor in conveying transferred relationship relative to said second conveyor whereby said excess articles will be successively transferred to said second conveyor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
In an article handling system as described in claim 5, further characterized in that said maintaining means includes a series of conveyors supported relative to said second conveyor for operation in substantially parallel spaced relationship to said second conveyor and for conveying movement in an opposite direction from said second conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
In an article handling system as described in claim 6, further characterized in that said second series of conveyors includes an article guide means operatively associated adjacent an outfeed end thereof for moving articles conveyed thereby onto said second conveying means and onto said first series of conveying means.