US3850316A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for loading and unloading vertically stacked racks
Assignee: Columbia Machine Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-28
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1994-01-28
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for loading articles onto the infeed end of a selected rack in a set of vertically stacked racks. The apparatus includes an infeed conveyor for moving articles horizontally and in succession into a region below the infeed ends of the racks and for positioning them a row in end-to-end relationship. An elevator having elongate, substantially horizontal lifting arms for receiving and holding opposed edge margins of the articles in a row is operable to raise them from the elevation of the conveyor to the elevation of a desired rack. The lifting arms have upper and lower guides forming a channel extending longitudinally of the arms which confines the upper and lower marginal edges of the articles. The lifting arms on the elevator are mounted for horizontal shifting toward and away from the infeed ends of the racks, so that when they arrive at the elevation of a desired rack they may be shifted into engagement with the racks whereby the channels in the arms join with channels in the racks to form continuous guide paths for articles to be transferred onto the racks. A pusher, which is vertically adjustable to different positions adjacent the infeed ends of the different racks is operable to push articles off the elevator and onto a selected rack.
Inventors
- 👤 R Schmitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:03
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
384 words
Apparatus for loading articles onto a selected one of a set of elongate, vertically stacked racks adapted to receive such articles at an infeed set of their ends wherein each rack has upper and lower guides defining a channel therebetween for receiving and confining upper and lower marginal edge portions of a plurality of articles received thereon disposed in end-to-end relationship in a row, said apparatus comprising an elongate infeed conveyor disposed below and adjacent the infeed ends of the racks operable to carry articles substantially horizontally and in succession toward the infeed ends of the racks, a vertically movable pusher spaced outwardly from the infeed ends of the racks adjustable selectively to at least two vertically spaced positions, each generally in axial alignment with a different one of said racks, said pusher including a pusher head shiftable under power toward and away from the infeed end of a rack with which it is aligned, an elevator posItioned between the infeed ends of the racks and the pusher and adjacent the conveyor, said elevator including opposed, laterally spaced lifting arms adapted to receive and hold a plurality of articles carried thereto by said conveyor with the articles held on the arms in a row in end-to-end relationship, each arm having upper and lower guide means thereon defining a channel therebetween for slidably receiving and confining upper and lower marginal edge portions of articles held on the arms, lift means operable to shift said lifting arms vertically between a lowered position adjacent said conveyor for receiving articles therefrom and selected raised positions wherein the channels defined by the guide means of the lifting arms are substantially in axial alignment with the channels defined by the guides of a rack with which the pusher is aligned, and means mounting said lifting arms for shifting substantially horizontally toward and away from the infeed ends of said racks, and means for shifting said lifting arms substantially horizontally between a first position spaced horizontally outwardly from the infeed ends of the racks and a second position contiguous the infeed end of a selected rack with the guide channels of said lifting arms and rack joined to define a substantially continuous guide path for articles which may be pushed from the elevator onto the rack by operation of said pusher.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
384 words
Apparatus for loading articles onto a selected one of a set of elongate, vertically stacked racks adapted to receive such articles at an infeed set of their ends wherein each rack has upper and lower guides defining a channel therebetween for receiving and confining upper and lower marginal edge portions of a plurality of articles received thereon disposed in end-to-end relationship in a row, said apparatus comprising an elongate infeed conveyor disposed below and adjacent the infeed ends of the racks operable to carry articles substantially horizontally and in succession toward the infeed ends of the racks, a vertically movable pusher spaced outwardly from the infeed ends of the racks adjustable selectively to at least two vertically spaced positions, each generally in axial alignment with a different one of said racks, said pusher including a pusher head shiftable under power toward and away from the infeed end of a rack with which it is aligned, an elevator posItioned between the infeed ends of the racks and the pusher and adjacent the conveyor, said elevator including opposed, laterally spaced lifting arms adapted to receive and hold a plurality of articles carried thereto by said conveyor with the articles held on the arms in a row in end-to-end relationship, each arm having upper and lower guide means thereon defining a channel therebetween for slidably receiving and confining upper and lower marginal edge portions of articles held on the arms, lift means operable to shift said lifting arms vertically between a lowered position adjacent said conveyor for receiving articles therefrom and selected raised positions wherein the channels defined by the guide means of the lifting arms are substantially in axial alignment with the channels defined by the guides of a rack with which the pusher is aligned, and means mounting said lifting arms for shifting substantially horizontally toward and away from the infeed ends of said racks, and means for shifting said lifting arms substantially horizontally between a first position spaced horizontally outwardly from the infeed ends of the racks and a second position contiguous the infeed end of a selected rack with the guide channels of said lifting arms and rack joined to define a substantially continuous guide path for articles which may be pushed from the elevator onto the rack by operation of said pusher.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises operating means operable to sense when the lifting arms of the elevator have been raised to a position substantially in axial alignment with a selected rack and when the lifting arms are in such position is operable to actuate the shifting means to move the lifting arms into their second position contiguous the ends of the racks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises a pair of mating aligning members, one of which is secured to the infeed end of a rack and the other of which is secured to the end of a lifting arm nearest said racks, said aligning means being positioned to engage one another when the lifting arm is shifted into a position contiguous a rack to assure alignment of the channels in the lifting arms and rack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lifting arms are mounted on said elevator for lateral movement toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other a distance greater than the side-to-side dimension of an article to be lifted permitting movement of articles therebetween, and a closed position spaced more closely together to support opposed side marginal edge portions of a plurality of articles interposed therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said operating means comprises sensing means mounted on said elevator for vertical movement therewith and for shifting horizontally toward and away from said racks independently of said lifting arms, a plurality of actuating means mounted adjacent said infeed ends of the racks with one of said actuating means associated with each of said racks, and means for shifting said sensing means horizontally between a first position spaced outwardly from the infeed ends of the racks in which position it may be moved vertically past said actuating means without actuation of the sensing means occurring and a second position disposed for actuation by an actuating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for shifting said sensing means horizontally comprises a cam mounted on said pusher and a cam follower on said elevator operatively connected to said sensing means operable to engage said cam on vertical shifting of the elevator and to produce shifting of the sensing means between its first and second positions in direct relation to its vertical position relative to said pusher.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said sensing means comprises a switch having an actuating arm projecting outwardly therefrom generally in the direction of the infeed ends of the racks and an actuating means comprises a member secured adjacent a rack and projecting outwardly toward said elevator in a position to be engaged by said actuating arm when said sensing means is in its second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises means for aligning a plurality of articles in end-to-end relation in a row extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a rack, and said lifting arms of the elevator are mounted for lateral movement toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other a distance greater than the side-to-side dimension of an article to be lifted to permit articles to be aligned in a row therebetween by said conveyor and a closed position spaced closer together to engage opposed marginal edge portions of the articles in such row.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said lower guide means of a lifting arm is adapted to provide underlying support for marginal edge portions of articles and said upper guide means is spaced above said lower guide means a distance which is greater than the height of the edge margin of an article to be lifted by the lifting arms, but is less than twice such height.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower guide means are spaced apart vertically a distance which is greater than the height of an edge margin of an article to be lifted by the lifting arms but is less than twice such height.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pusher comprises an extensible-contractible ram disposed with its longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to the racks, said lifting arms of the elevator extend between said ram and the infeed ends of said racks, and the ram is operable, on being extended to shove articles off said arms and onto a rack, with said upper and lower guide means confining upper and lower marginal edges of articles on the lifting arms being positioned to prevent contiguous ends of articles in the row from riding up and over each other during such pushing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is another set of elongate vertically stacked racks disposed laterally adjacent said first-mentioned set, with each rack in said other set at substantially the same elevation as a rack in the first-mentioned set, said pusher and elevator are mounted for movement laterally of the ends of such racks, and which further comprises power-operated means operatively connected to said pusher and elevator operable to move the same laterally of said ends of the racks from positions adjacent the ends of the racks in one set to positions adjacent the ends of the racks in the other set.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said racks have an outfeed set of ends from which articles may be discharged and which further comprises an outfeed conveyor spaced vertically from said racks operable to move articles substantially horizontally and in succession away from said outfeed ends, and transfer means disposed intermediate said outfeed ends and the outfeed conveyor, said transfer means including means operable to receive articles discharged from the racks and to shift them vertically onto said outfeed conveyor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said transfer means comprises a vertically movable article receiver mounted for selective adjustment to different vertically spaced positions, each generally in alignment with the outfeed end of a different one of said racks, motor means connected to said receiver for moving the same between said different positions, and control means connecting said adjustment means for said pusher and the motor means for said receiver operable to produce adjustment of said receiver, whereby it is maintained adjacent the outfeed end of the same rack with which the shifter is aligned.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is another set of elongate, vertically stacked racks disposed adjacent and laterally of said first-mentioned set, and which further comprises a substantially upright traveling frame mounted for movement lateRally of the infeed ends of the racks in said sets, and said pusher is mounted on a vertically shiftable carriage carried on said traveling frame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
345 words
Apparatus for loading articles onto a selected one of a set of elongate, vertically stacked racks adapted to receive such articles at an infeed set of their ends wherein the racks have upper and lower guides defining a channel therebetween for slidably receiving articles therein and confining upper and lower marginal edge portions of such articles, said apparatus comprising an elongate infeed conveyor disposed below and adjacent the infeed ends of the racks operable to carry articles substantially horizontally and in succession toward the infeed ends of the racks, an elevator adjacent the infeed ends of the racks including opposed, laterally spaced, elongate, substantially horizontal lifting arms adapted to receive and hold a plurality of articles carried thereto by said conveyor with the articles held on the arms in end-to-end relationship, each arm having upper and lower guide means defining a channel extending longitudinally thereof for slidably receiving opposed edge margins of such articles and confining upper and lower marginal edge portions of such articles, lift means for moving said arms upwardly from a receiving position adjacent said conveyor to a position wherein articles carried by said arms are substantially in axial alignment with one of said racks, and means mounting said arms for horizontal shifting toward and away from said racks between a first position spaced a distance outwardly therefrom and a second position in which one end of a lifting arm engages the infeed end of a rack with the channels of said rack and arm joined to form a substantially continuous guide path for articles to be moved from said lifting arm onto a rack, and a vertically movable pusher mounted adjacent said elevator, adjustable selectively to at least two different vertically spaced positions, each generally in axial alignment with a different one of said racks, said pusher being operable when in a position aligned with a selected rack and with a plurality of articles held on said elevator in alignment with said selected rack, to shift the articles laterally from the elevator and onto the adjacent infeed end of the rack.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
345 words
Apparatus for loading articles onto a selected one of a set of elongate, vertically stacked racks adapted to receive such articles at an infeed set of their ends wherein the racks have upper and lower guides defining a channel therebetween for slidably receiving articles therein and confining upper and lower marginal edge portions of such articles, said apparatus comprising an elongate infeed conveyor disposed below and adjacent the infeed ends of the racks operable to carry articles substantially horizontally and in succession toward the infeed ends of the racks, an elevator adjacent the infeed ends of the racks including opposed, laterally spaced, elongate, substantially horizontal lifting arms adapted to receive and hold a plurality of articles carried thereto by said conveyor with the articles held on the arms in end-to-end relationship, each arm having upper and lower guide means defining a channel extending longitudinally thereof for slidably receiving opposed edge margins of such articles and confining upper and lower marginal edge portions of such articles, lift means for moving said arms upwardly from a receiving position adjacent said conveyor to a position wherein articles carried by said arms are substantially in axial alignment with one of said racks, and means mounting said arms for horizontal shifting toward and away from said racks between a first position spaced a distance outwardly therefrom and a second position in which one end of a lifting arm engages the infeed end of a rack with the channels of said rack and arm joined to form a substantially continuous guide path for articles to be moved from said lifting arm onto a rack, and a vertically movable pusher mounted adjacent said elevator, adjustable selectively to at least two different vertically spaced positions, each generally in axial alignment with a different one of said racks, said pusher being operable when in a position aligned with a selected rack and with a plurality of articles held on said elevator in alignment with said selected rack, to shift the articles laterally from the elevator and onto the adjacent infeed end of the rack.
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) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |