Apparatus for transferring discrete loads to or from pallets

Claim 2

Apparatus for transferring a plurality of discrete loads to a pallet of the kind capable of receiving two parallel rows of the discrete loads, comprising: pallet infeed means for moving an empty pallet to a loading station; first and second conveying means to convey loads simultaneously to respective first and second loading positions on opposite sides of said loading station so that each loading position is occupied by a similar number of loads arranged in a single row parallel to and adjacent the position on the pallet in which the loads are to be supported by the pallet; transfer means for acting simultaneously on the two rows of loads at said loading positions to push the loads simultaneously to their respective position on the pallet while the pallet is at said loading station; means for actuating said transfer means so that the articles in each of said rows of loads are pushed simultaneously into position on the pallet; and pallet discharge means for discharging the loaded pallet from the apparatus.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said apparatus being for loading cylindrical articles such as kegs onto pallets of the kind having a load-bearing surface shaped to support two parallel rows of cylindrical articles, the articles in each row lying with the axis of each of the articles being substantially horizontal and aligned with a plane defined by the load-bearing surface, in which said apparatus further includes: each of said first and second load conveying means being arranged to move, to the associated loading position, a plurality of cylindrical articles arranged with their axes substantially horizontal and colinear and substantially parallel to the plane defined by the load-bearing surface of the pallet at said loading station; and said load transfer means comprises a pair of transfer members each adapted to engage the articles in one of said rows of loads at the loading positions and to push said articles in said row of loads so that said articles roll into position on the pallet, and means for simultaneously actuating said transfer members so that the articles in each of said rows of loads are pushed simultaneously into position on the pallet.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which each of said transfer members is pivotally mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis above the corresponding loading position and is provided at the free end thereof with means to engage the cylindrical surfaces of the articles at the loading position.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which each transfer member carries roller means, rotatable about a horizontal axis spaced from the axis of rotation of the transfer member, with which the loads are engaged during the transfer operation thereby to push the loads onto the pallet.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which a stop member is disposed between the two load conveying means in such a position as to prevent articles pushed onto a pallet by the transfer members from rolling beyond their required positions on the pallet.