Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
A roll loading apparatus comprising: a. a base frame, b. an elevator member, c. means mounting said elevator member on said base frame for vertical reciprocable movement, d. an elongated cradle adapted to support a roll in an elevated position, e. means supporting said cradle adjacent said base frame, f. at least one roll engaging finger, g. means pivotally mounting said finger on said elevator member to normally project toward said cradle at an inclination from said elevator member, said cradle being in the vertical path of said projected finger, h. an opening in said cradle adapted to register with each said finger to permit the vertical movement of said finger through said cradle, i. means limiting the pivotal movement of said finger between its normally inclined position and a raised position, j. motive means for raisIng and lowering said elevator member so that when said finger is moving up through said cradle said projecting finger lifts a roll supported by said cradle causing said roll to roll down said finger toward said elevator member, and when said finger is moving down through said cradle, a roll carried by said cradle deflects said finger to said raised position. k. a reversing limit switch on said elevator member adapted to be actuated by the pivotal movement of said finger, so that when said finger moves from its raised position to its inclined position, said reversing limit switch is actuated, said reversing limit switch being operatively connected to said motive means to reverse the direction of said elevator member from down to up when said reversing limit switch is actuated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
268 words
A roll loading apparatus comprising: a. a base frame, b. an elevator member, c. means mounting said elevator member on said base frame for vertical reciprocable movement, d. an elongated cradle adapted to support a roll in an elevated position, e. means supporting said cradle adjacent said base frame, f. at least one roll engaging finger, g. means pivotally mounting said finger on said elevator member to normally project toward said cradle at an inclination from said elevator member, said cradle being in the vertical path of said projected finger, h. an opening in said cradle adapted to register with each said finger to permit the vertical movement of said finger through said cradle, i. means limiting the pivotal movement of said finger between its normally inclined position and a raised position, j. motive means for raisIng and lowering said elevator member so that when said finger is moving up through said cradle said projecting finger lifts a roll supported by said cradle causing said roll to roll down said finger toward said elevator member, and when said finger is moving down through said cradle, a roll carried by said cradle deflects said finger to said raised position. k. a reversing limit switch on said elevator member adapted to be actuated by the pivotal movement of said finger, so that when said finger moves from its raised position to its inclined position, said reversing limit switch is actuated, said reversing limit switch being operatively connected to said motive means to reverse the direction of said elevator member from down to up when said reversing limit switch is actuated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The invention according to claim 1 further comprising an upper reversing limit switch mounted on said base frame and adapted to be actuated by said elevator member at an upper limit of the vertical movement of said elevator member, the upper reversing limit switch being operatively connected to said motive means to reverse the movement of the elevator member from up to down when said upper limit reversing limit switch is actuated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention according to claim 1 further comprising stop switch means mounted on said frame and adapted to be actuated by said elevator member when said elevator member is at an intermediate position between an upper and lower limit of the vertical reciprocable movement of said elevator member, said stop switch means being operatively connected to said motive means to stop the movement of said elevator member when said stop switch means is actuated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said cradle is an upper cradle, and further comprising a lower cradle supported vertically below said upper cradle and having a lower opening in vertical alignment with the opening in said upper cradle to register with said finger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention according to claim 4 in which said means supporting said upper and lower cradles comprises a storage truck having vertically spaced upper and lower shelves inclined to the horizontal, and extending upward from said upper and lower cradles, respectively, to support a plurality of rolls and permit said rolls to gravitate from said shelves to said corresponding cradles for interception by said finger.