US3869049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Can depalletizer
Assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-05-29
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Granted: 1975-03-04
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Expires: 1993-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A depalletizer apparatus for unloading containers or other articles stacked in tiers which are separated by paperboard upon a pallet. The apparatus has a pallet infeed section, an elevator means for sequentially raising a loaded pallet to a height of one tier and sweep means operated in conjunction with the elevator to remove each tier onto a conveyor. Also disclosed is a pallet discharge means, and a paperboard removal means which together with the sweep means operate to move the pallets, the containers, and the paperboard onto three conveyors for transporting same to three separate collection areas, all conveyors being located adjacent the top of the elevator means. Finally, this specification also discloses a second elevator means for receiving the unloaded pallets and stacking same as well as a compartment for receiving paperboard and collecting same in a manner to facilitate subsequent removal and reuse.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome A Selusnik
- 👤 Robert W Wolfe
- 👤 William J Cartwright
- 👤 Oliver C Tate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:22
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G59/00; B65G59/02; B65G59/026; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/108
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A container handling apparatus for unloading containers stacked in tiers separated by paperboard upon a pallet, said apparatus comprising: a. elevator means for receiving a loaded pallet, and for incrementally raising said pallet; b. separate discharge means adjacent the top of said elevator means for removing said containers, paperboard and pallet from said elevator means; and c. three horizontal conveyor means exending from the top of said elevator means for receiving said containers, paperboard and pallets and conveying same to separate collecting areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A container handling apparatus for unloading containers stacked in tiers separated by paperboard upon a pallet, said apparatus comprising: a. elevator means for receiving a loaded pallet, and for incrementally raising said pallet; b. separate discharge means adjacent the top of said elevator means for removing said containers, paperboard and pallet from said elevator means; and c. three horizontal conveyor means exending from the top of said elevator means for receiving said containers, paperboard and pallets and conveying same to separate collecting areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said discharge means for removing said containers comprises a sweep assembly including: a. reciprocating means for engaging each tier of containers and sweeping same onto a conveyor during movement toward said conveyor; and b. control Means for actuating said elevator means during movement of said reciprocating means away from said conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said elevator means comprises: a. a support; and b. two vertical chain drive means carried by said support, and spaced apart to receive a pallet and having two lift bars on each chain drive means spaced apart a distance equal to the height of each chain drive means so that a second pallet may be picked up without completely lowering the chain drive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a depalletizer for unloading containers stacked in layers on a pallet and separated by paperboard, said depalletizer having an elevator assembly for raising the pallet incrementally one container height and means for sweeping the containers onto a conveyor, the improvement comprising: a. a sweep mechanism adapted to be reciprocated across the top of the elevator for removing the upper layer of containers while moving in one direction, means for swingably retracting said sweep mechanism upwardly and away from the last row of containers while moving in the other direction across the top of the elevator; and b. control means connected thereto for detecting the position of said sweep mechanism and for actuating the elevator for raising same the height of one container during movement of the sweep mechanism in the other direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a depalletizer for unloading containers stacked in layers on a pallet and separated by paperboard, said depalletizer having an elevator assembly for raising the pallet incrementally one container height and means for sweeping the containers onto a conveyor, the improvement comprising: a. a sweep mechanism adapted to be reciprocated across the top of the elevator for removing the upper layer of containers while moving in one direction, means for swingably retracting said sweep mechanism upwardly and away from the last row of containers while moving in the other direction across the top of the elevator; and b. control means connected thereto for detecting the position of said sweep mechanism and for actuating the elevator for raising same the height of one container during movement of the sweep mechanism in the other direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 4 in which said sweep mechanism comprises: a. guide rods attached to said elevator assembly and carrying a sweep bar; b. a chain drive means carried on said elevator assembly for moving said sweep bar along said guide rods; and c. means interconnecting said chain drive means and said sweep bar for gradually accelerating its velocity as it engages a tier of containers; and d. said retracting means comprising a rack and pinion drive operative to swing said sweep mechanism about a generally horizontal axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A container handling apparatus for unloading containers stacked in tiers upon a pallet, said apparatus comprising: a. elevator means for receiving a loaded pallet and for incrementally raising same; b. separate discharge means carried at the top of said elevator means for removing said containers, and the pallet; c. said discharge means for removing said containers including a reciprocable sweep assembly having a sweep position for engaging a tier of containers in one direction of movement and an elevated position in the reverse direction of movement; and d. control means interconnected between said sweep assembly and said elevator means for incrementally raising said pallet during movement of the sweep assembly in the reverse direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
A container handling apparatus for unloading containers stacked in tiers upon a pallet, said apparatus comprising: a. elevator means for receiving a loaded pallet and for incrementally raising same; b. separate discharge means carried at the top of said elevator means for removing said containers, and the pallet; c. said discharge means for removing said containers including a reciprocable sweep assembly having a sweep position for engaging a tier of containers in one direction of movement and an elevated position in the reverse direction of movement; and d. control means interconnected between said sweep assembly and said elevator means for incrementally raising said pallet during movement of the sweep assembly in the reverse direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 6 in which: a. said elevator means includes control means for indicating the vertical position of said pallet and for moving said pallet into juxtaposition with said discharge means for said pallet when all containers have been removed from said pallet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 7 in which parallel conveyors are positioned adjacent each discharge means for separately receiving the containers and the pallets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
136 words
A depalletizer for unloading tiers of containers from a pallet comprising: a. an elevator means for receiving pallets having tiers of containers thereon and separated by paperboard and for sequentially elevating said pallet incrementally for a height of one tier; b. sweep means and paperboard discharger means carried at the top of the elevator means for sweeping the containers from the loaded pallet and for removing the paperboard; c. timing means connected to said sweep means for indicating the position of said sweep means; and d. control means interconnected between said timing means, said elevator means and said paperboard discharge means for actuaitng said discharge means and said elevator means at preselected positions of said sweep means so as to decrease time lags between the movements of the elevator means, sweep means and paperboard discharge means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
136 words
A depalletizer for unloading tiers of containers from a pallet comprising: a. an elevator means for receiving pallets having tiers of containers thereon and separated by paperboard and for sequentially elevating said pallet incrementally for a height of one tier; b. sweep means and paperboard discharger means carried at the top of the elevator means for sweeping the containers from the loaded pallet and for removing the paperboard; c. timing means connected to said sweep means for indicating the position of said sweep means; and d. control means interconnected between said timing means, said elevator means and said paperboard discharge means for actuaitng said discharge means and said elevator means at preselected positions of said sweep means so as to decrease time lags between the movements of the elevator means, sweep means and paperboard discharge means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 9 in which said sweep means comprises: a. a horizontal bar mounted on guide rods for reciprocation across the top of the elevator means; and b. means for moving said bar vertically downward for engaging each tier during reciprocal movement in one direction and for elevating said bar during reciprocal movement in the other direction, said control means actuating said elevator means during reciprocal movement of said bar in said other direction and actuating said paperboard discharge means during movement in said one direction.
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) | 1978-03-03 | 1978-09-02 | 1979-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-03 | 1982-09-02 | 1983-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-03 | 1986-09-02 | 1987-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |