US3742738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laundry handling system and equipment
Assignee: McGraw Edison Co
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Filing: 1971-07-26
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A laundry handling system and equipment including overhead support rails and carriers suspended therefrom and adapted to receive laundry goods from and transfer them about a plant to respective units of laundring or finishing equipment. The support rail concept provides power lifting the carriers against gravity and then allowing them to move by gravity and/or with operator assist throughout the various operative positions. The specific carriers have bumpers to allow adjacent like carriers to contact one another without damage and further have rigid scoop like body structures suited for holding loose laundry goods without dropping same. Carrier support means below the support rail are provided for swiveling the carrier about a vertical axis to allow the carrier to be nosed into registry with the loading and unloading openings of the units and are also provided for swiveling the carrier about a horizontal axis centrally through the carrier for tilting the carrier bottom wall as required for easy loading, for reliable transit, and for easy unloading of the goods. Also provided are lock means to hold the carrier against swivel in certain set positions as required. The specific carrier shapes and sizes and swivel mountings allow handling wet heavy goods and dry fluffed up goods.
Inventors
- 👤 C Frotriede
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:12
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F95/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
Apparatus for bulk handling and conveying randomly grouped fabric goods between spaced work areas one of which areas is at and includes an industrial fabric treating unit having an access opening through which the goods are passed, said handling apparatus comprising an overhead support rail running between the areas and adjacent the unit, a trolley-like device hanging from and movable axially along the support rail, and upwardly and forwardly open carrier including a base wall, a rear wall, and opposing side walls, arms depending from the trolley-like device, pivot means connected between the carrier and the arms for allowing carrier swivel about a generally horizontal axis through the carrier side walls between a first carrier position suited for holding the randomly grouped goods and a second carrier position for dumping the goods from the carrier, lock means for holding the carrier in the first position, means for releas-ing the lock means from a remote location, and means operable when the carrier is in the work area including the unit for shifting the carrier to operative association with the unit with the front of the carrier base wall generally lined up in registry with the unit opening and abutted against the unit whereby transfer of the goods can occur between the carrier and unit through the opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
Apparatus for bulk handling and conveying randomly grouped fabric goods between spaced work areas one of which areas is at and includes an industrial fabric treating unit having an access opening through which the goods are passed, said handling apparatus comprising an overhead support rail running between the areas and adjacent the unit, a trolley-like device hanging from and movable axially along the support rail, and upwardly and forwardly open carrier including a base wall, a rear wall, and opposing side walls, arms depending from the trolley-like device, pivot means connected between the carrier and the arms for allowing carrier swivel about a generally horizontal axis through the carrier side walls between a first carrier position suited for holding the randomly grouped goods and a second carrier position for dumping the goods from the carrier, lock means for holding the carrier in the first position, means for releas-ing the lock means from a remote location, and means operable when the carrier is in the work area including the unit for shifting the carrier to operative association with the unit with the front of the carrier base wall generally lined up in registry with the unit opening and abutted against the unit whereby transfer of the goods can occur between the carrier and unit through the opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Handling apparatus according to claim 1, further including stops located along the support rail adapted to engage and hold the trolley-like device when the carrier is in general registry with the unit and the opening therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Handling apparatus according to claim 1, further including snubber means between the carrier and arms operable in the second carrier position to assist the dumping of goods from the carrier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
Handling apparatus according to claim 1, further including means between the arms and trolley-like device for rotating the carrier relative to the trolley-like device about a general vertical axis between one position in line with the support rail and another position transverse to the support rail, second lock means for holding the carrier in the one position, and second means for releasing the second lock means from a remote location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Handling apparatus according to claim 4, further including means cooperating between the carrier and the unit for holding the carrier closely adjacent the unit and the base wall underlying the opening therein, whereby the goods can be unloaded from the unit into the carrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
Handling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the carrier swivel means also allows the carrier to swivel rearwardly beyond the first carrier position to a third carrier position where the base wall is upwardly inclined toward the unit opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
Handling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein The carrier is sufficiently narrow across the side walls to fit within the opening of the unit and wherein rollers on the carrier end within the opening are adapted in the carrier dumping position to engage the opening periphery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
Handling apparatus according to claim 4, further including carrier guide means extended rearwardly beyond the rear wall of the carrier at a location near the base wall thereof, operable in one instance to serve as a step for the operator to use to overweight the rear part of the carrier for upwardly pivoting the carrier front about the horizontal axis and operable in another instance to serve as a handle for hand manipulation by the operator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
Handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is sufficiently wide across the side walls to extend well beyond the opening of the unit, whereby the carrier when in its first position orientation and below and overlying the opening is shifted to a receiving position against the unit to allow the goods to be unloaded from the unit directly into the carrier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
Handling apparatus according to claim 9, further including a control having a switch which when actuated operates the unit, and a limit arm located on the unit adapted to be engaged by the carrier when in the receiving position operable then to actuate the unit only when the carrier is in proper position to receive the goods unloaded from the unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
Handling apparatus according to claim 9, further including carrier guide means in the form of a flexible strap secured as a loop to the under-side of the carrier base wall at the front and the rear wall at the top in a manner to hang generally loose, whereby an operator can grasp the loose loop of the flexible strap and pull it to rotate the carrier about the horizontal axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
Handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trolley-like device includes a pair of spaced rollers adapted to ride along the rail, a bumper bar underlying the rollers, links pivoted about axes normal to the rail connecting the rollers and bumper bar together, said depending arms being operatively connected to the bumper bar, and bumpers on the opposite ends of the bumper bar extended beyond the carrier.
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) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |