US3696949A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Load transfer apparatus
Assignee: UNIROYAL
•
Filing: 1970-07-16
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1990-07-16
Abstract
Abstract An automatic apparatus is disclosed for transferring separate loads or objects individually from the conveying means bringing them to a loading station onto a truck or like vehicle which has a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal compartment tiers and by means of which the loads can be transported to another location for further handling or processing. The apparatus includes a load-hoisting lift movable vertically reciprocally past the various levels of compartments on such a truck in controlled amounts determined by the number and sizes of the horizontal tiers, a horizontal platform for supporting the truck and indexing it horizontally past the lift by increments determined by the number and sizes of the objects to be disposed in side by side relation in each horizontal compartment, and means for transferring each load individually off the lift and into a respective compartment on the truck. This abstract is not to be taken as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention, however, the full nature and extent of the invention being discernible only by reference to and from the entire disclosure.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Leblond
- 👤 Jean Biet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:17
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/0407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
450 words
Apparatus for transferring a plurality of loads individually into a storage structure having a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal plates defining therebetween a column of loadreceiving compartments, comprising: a. load-holding means arranged at a loading station 1. for vertical reciprocal movement along a path spaced from the location of said column of compartments and between a single load-accepting position and each of a series of vertically spaced load-transferring positions the levels of which correspond to those of said compartments of said storage structure, and 2. for horizontal reciprocal movement in a direction transverse to said path and between respective retracted and protracted positions out of and in said column of compartments; b. first sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of a load in each of said compartments; c. first operating means operatively connected with said loadholding means for displacing the same vertically along said column of compartments, with said load-holding means in said retracted position thereof, 1. out of said load-accepting position and toward any given load-transferring position when a load being transferred is located on said load-holding means, and 2. out of any given load-transferring position and back to said load-accepting position when a load being transferred has been removed from said load-holding means, said first sensing means being operatively connected with said first operating means for deactivating the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means at the level of the first compartment sensed to be empty; d. second operating means connecTed with said load-holding means for sequentially displacing the same horizontally when stopped at a load-transferring position opposite an empty compartment, 1. out of said retracted position and into said protracted position thereof for shifting the load then on said loadholding means into the confines of the then opposed empty compartment, and 2. out of said protracted position and back into said retracted position thereof; and e. stop means movable, selectively, with said load-holding means along a path intermediate said column of compartments and said path of vertical movement of said load-holding means, as well as both vertically and horizontally relative to said loadholding means, for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said protracted position of the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means so as to retain the load on the latter, and for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said retracted position of the latter when said loadholding means is in said protracted position thereof so as to impede any return movement of the load out of said opposed compartment during the displacement of said load-holding means back into said retracted position thereof by said second operating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
450 words
Apparatus for transferring a plurality of loads individually into a storage structure having a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal plates defining therebetween a column of loadreceiving compartments, comprising: a. load-holding means arranged at a loading station 1. for vertical reciprocal movement along a path spaced from the location of said column of compartments and between a single load-accepting position and each of a series of vertically spaced load-transferring positions the levels of which correspond to those of said compartments of said storage structure, and 2. for horizontal reciprocal movement in a direction transverse to said path and between respective retracted and protracted positions out of and in said column of compartments; b. first sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of a load in each of said compartments; c. first operating means operatively connected with said loadholding means for displacing the same vertically along said column of compartments, with said load-holding means in said retracted position thereof, 1. out of said load-accepting position and toward any given load-transferring position when a load being transferred is located on said load-holding means, and 2. out of any given load-transferring position and back to said load-accepting position when a load being transferred has been removed from said load-holding means, said first sensing means being operatively connected with said first operating means for deactivating the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means at the level of the first compartment sensed to be empty; d. second operating means connecTed with said load-holding means for sequentially displacing the same horizontally when stopped at a load-transferring position opposite an empty compartment, 1. out of said retracted position and into said protracted position thereof for shifting the load then on said loadholding means into the confines of the then opposed empty compartment, and 2. out of said protracted position and back into said retracted position thereof; and e. stop means movable, selectively, with said load-holding means along a path intermediate said column of compartments and said path of vertical movement of said load-holding means, as well as both vertically and horizontally relative to said loadholding means, for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said protracted position of the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means so as to retain the load on the latter, and for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said retracted position of the latter when said loadholding means is in said protracted position thereof so as to impede any return movement of the load out of said opposed compartment during the displacement of said load-holding means back into said retracted position thereof by said second operating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
for horizontal reciprocal movement in a direction transverse to said first path and between respective retracted and protracted positions out of and in overhanging relation to said platform; c. means for sensing the presence or absence of a load in each section of a column of sections of said compartments when juxtaposed to said second path of movement of said load-holding means; d. first drive means operatively connected with said load-holding means for displacing the same vertically along said column of sections of said compartments, with said load-holding means in said retracted position thereof,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
for horizontal reciprocal movement in a direction transverse to said first path and between respective retracted and protracted positions out of and in overhanging relation to said platform; c. means for sensing the presence or absence of a load in each section of a column of sections of said compartments when juxtaposed to said second path of movement of said load-holding means; d. first drive means operatively connected with said load-holding means for displacing the same vertically along said column of sections of said compartments, with said load-holding means in said retracted position thereof,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
out of any given load-transferring position and back to said load-accepting position when a load being transferred has been removed from said load-holding means, said sensing means being operatively connected with said first drive means for deactivating the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means at the level of the first compartment section sensed to be empty; e. operator means connected with said load-holding means for sequentially displacing the same horizontally when stopped at a load-transferring position opposite an empty compartment section,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
out of any given load-transferring position and back to said load-accepting position when a load being transferred has been removed from said load-holding means, said sensing means being operatively connected with said first drive means for deactivating the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means at the level of the first compartment section sensed to be empty; e. operator means connected with said load-holding means for sequentially displacing the same horizontally when stopped at a load-transferring position opposite an empty compartment section,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
215 words
out of said protracted position and back into said retracted position thereof; f. abutment means movable, selectively, with said load-holding means along a path intermediate said second path and said column of compartment sections, as well as both vertically and horizontally relative to said load holding means, for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said protracted position of the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means so as to retain the load on the latter, and for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said retracted position of the latter when said load-holding means is in said protracted position thereof so as to impede any return movement of the load out of said opposed compartment section during the displacement of said load-holding means back into said retracted position thereof; and g. second drive means operatively connected with said platform for indexing the same one step at a time horizontally along said first path, said sensing means being operatively connected with said second drive means for activating the latter whenever all compartment sections in said column are full, so as to bring the next adjacent column of sections of said compartments into juxtaposition to said second path of movement of said load-holding means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
215 words
out of said protracted position and back into said retracted position thereof; f. abutment means movable, selectively, with said load-holding means along a path intermediate said second path and said column of compartment sections, as well as both vertically and horizontally relative to said load holding means, for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said protracted position of the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means so as to retain the load on the latter, and for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said retracted position of the latter when said load-holding means is in said protracted position thereof so as to impede any return movement of the load out of said opposed compartment section during the displacement of said load-holding means back into said retracted position thereof; and g. second drive means operatively connected with said platform for indexing the same one step at a time horizontally along said first path, said sensing means being operatively connected with said second drive means for activating the latter whenever all compartment sections in said column are full, so as to bring the next adjacent column of sections of said compartments into juxtaposition to said second path of movement of said load-holding means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
for horizontal reciprocal movement in a direction transverse to said path and between respective retracted and protracted positions out of and in said column of compartments; b. first sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of a load in each of said compartments; c. first operating means operatively connected with said load-holding means for displacing the same vertically along said column of compartments, with said load-holding means in said retracted position thereof,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
for horizontal reciprocal movement in a direction transverse to said path and between respective retracted and protracted positions out of and in said column of compartments; b. first sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of a load in each of said compartments; c. first operating means operatively connected with said load-holding means for displacing the same vertically along said column of compartments, with said load-holding means in said retracted position thereof,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
out of any given load-transferring position and back to said load-accepting position when a load being transferred has been removed from said load-holding means, said first sensing means being operatively connected with said first operating means for deactivating the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means at the level of the first compartment sensed to be empty; d. second operating means connecTed with said load-holding means for sequentially displacing the same horizontally when stopped at a load-transferring position opposite an empty compartment,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
out of any given load-transferring position and back to said load-accepting position when a load being transferred has been removed from said load-holding means, said first sensing means being operatively connected with said first operating means for deactivating the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means at the level of the first compartment sensed to be empty; d. second operating means connecTed with said load-holding means for sequentially displacing the same horizontally when stopped at a load-transferring position opposite an empty compartment,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
151 words
out of said protracted position and back into said retracted position thereof; and e. stop means movable, selectively, with said load-holding means along a path intermediate said column of compartments and said path of vertical movement of said load-holding means, as well as both vertically and horizontally relative to said load-holding means, for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said protracted position of the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means so as to retain the load on the latter, and for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said retracted position of the latter when said load-holding means is in said protracted position thereof so as to impede any return movement of the load out of said opposed compartment during the displacement of said load-holding means back into said retracted position thereof by said second operating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
151 words
out of said protracted position and back into said retracted position thereof; and e. stop means movable, selectively, with said load-holding means along a path intermediate said column of compartments and said path of vertical movement of said load-holding means, as well as both vertically and horizontally relative to said load-holding means, for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said protracted position of the latter during said vertical movement of said load-holding means so as to retain the load on the latter, and for engaging that portion of the load on said load-holding means directed toward said retracted position of the latter when said load-holding means is in said protracted position thereof so as to impede any return movement of the load out of said opposed compartment during the displacement of said load-holding means back into said retracted position thereof by said second operating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising third operating means operatively connected with said first sensing means for indexing said storage structure horizontally, along a path transverse to both the path of vertical movement of said load-holding means and the direction of horizontal movement of the same, after the sensing, by said first sensing means, of the transfer of a respective load into each section of a given column of sections of said compartments, thereby to dispose an empty column of sections of said compartments opposite said path of vertical movement of said load-holding means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a platform arranged for horizontal movement in said transverse path, said platform being adapted to support said storage structure, and said third operating means being connected with said platform.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, said third operating means being constructed and arranged to enable said platform to be indexed in equal steps of predetermined length depending on the widths of said loads and the number of laterally adjacent columns of compartment sections of appropriate width available in said storage structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, said platform being provided with means for selectively guiding and adjustably laterally positioning said storage structure on said platform and relative to said load-holding means in dependence on the width of said storage structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising adjustable guide roller means rigidly mounted adjacent the path of horizontal movement of said platform for engagement with the opposed lateral edges of a selected one of said plates of said storage structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising conveyor means for feeding said loads to said load-accepting position of said load-holding means, fourth operating means for driving said conveyor means, second sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of a load at the location of transfer of loads from said conveyor means to said load-holding means, and third sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of a load at said load-accepting position of said load-holding means, said second and third sensing means being operatively connected with said fourth operating means to enable activation of said conveyor means only upon location of said load-holding means in an empty state at said load-accepting position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, said stop means comprising a horizontally oriented dual back to back abutment structure, fifth operating means for reciprocally displacing said abutment structure vertically relative to Said load-holding means so as to selectively dispose said abutment structure in and out of the path of horizontal movement of a load supported by said load-holding means as the latter is moved horizontally by said second operating means, and sixth operating means for reciprocally displacing that portion of said abutment structure facing toward said protracted position of said load-holding means horizontally relative to that portion of said abutment structure facing toward said retracted position of said load-holding means, said last-named portion of said abutment structure providing the retaining function, and said first-named portion of said abutment structure providing the impeding function, for said stop means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, said load-holding means comprising a frame mounted for vertical movement, and a load-supporting carriage mounted on said frame for horizontal movement relative thereto, said first operating means being connected with said frame, and said second operating means being connected with said carriage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, said first operating means comprising a motor-driven winch including a pulley, and a cable passed about said pulley and connected to said frame, and said second operating means comprising a fluid pressure piston and cylinder unit having one member thereof connected to an adjunct of said frame and the other member connected to said carriage.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a table structure located at said load-accepting position of said load-holding means for supporting each load to be transferred, and said carriage comprising a pair of substantially horizontal fork arms extending toward the location of said storage structure and adapted to support a load when the same is disposed in bridging relation to said fork arms, said table structure being somewhat narrower than said loads to enable each of the latter to project laterally of said table structure when supported thereby, and said fork arms being spaced apart somewhat more than the width of said table structure and in said load-accepting position of said load-holding means being disposed somewhat below the level of said table structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising conveyor means aligned with said table structure for feeding said loads to the same, fourth operating means for driving said conveyor means, second sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of a load at the location of transfer of loads from said conveyor means to said table structure, third sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of a load on said table structure, and fourth sensing means for sensing the location of said load-holding means in said load-accepting position, said second, third and fourth sensing means being operatively connected with said first and fourth operating means to enable activation of said fourth operating means to drive said conveyor means only upon location of said fork arms below the level of said table structure with no load on the latter, and to enable activation of said first operating means to move said frame and therewith said carriage vertically out of said load-accepting position only upon location of said fork arms below the level of said table structure with a load on the latter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for automatically transferring a plurality of loads individually into a movable storage structure having a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal plates defining therebetween a column of load-receiving compartments, comprising: a. a platform arranged at a loading station for horizontal stepwise movement along a first path, said platform being adapted to support said storage structure so as to dispose said plates of the latter in respective load-receiving positions; b. load-holding means arranged at said loading station
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for automatically transferring a plurality of loads individually into a movable storage structure having a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal plates defining therebetween a column of load-receiving compartments, comprising: a. a platform arranged at a loading station for horizontal stepwise movement along a first path, said platform being adapted to support said storage structure so as to dispose said plates of the latter in respective load-receiving positions; b. load-holding means arranged at said loading station
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |