Article transfer device

Claim 2

Load-handling mechanism for an elevator platform having an elongate rectangular surface to be selectively right-left loaded and unloaded with one of a plurality of containers, said platform including endless-belt conveyor means having an upper horizontal course defining the general plane of said surface and extending longitudinally from end to end of said platform, first reversible-drive means for driving said conveyor means, elongate guide means parallel to the course of said conveyor mean and laterally offset therefrom, a slidE slidable in said guide means within the longitudinal confines of said platform and confined to an elevation range beneath said plane, second reversible drive means for positioning said slide along said guide means, container-end engaging means retractably carried by said slide, said container means including an element having a longitudinal lost-motion connection to said slide, actuating means for selectively displacing said end-engaging means between a projected container-engageable position above said plane and a retracted position below said plane, and automatic load-unload cycle-control means including longitudinally arrayed containerpresence sensing means and longitudinally arrayed slide-presence sensing means governing belt transport of a container essentially for those positions when a container is at least primarily supported on said conveyor means, said control means further responding to the sensed location and degree of container loading on said conveyor means for governing actuation of said containerengaging means to projected position only (a) when the container is less than primarily supported on said conveyor means and (b) when said slide is in a position longitudinally offset from the container.

Claim 3

Load-handling mechanism for an elevator platform having an elongate rectangular surface to be selectively right-left loaded and unloaded with one of a plurality of like rectangular-prismatic containers of length at least no greater than the longitudinal limits of said platform, said platform including endless-belt conveyor means having an upper horizontal course defining the general plane of said surface and extending longitudinally between said limits, first reversible-drive means for driving said conveyor means, elongate guide means parallel to the course of said conveyor means and laterally offset therefrom, a slide slidable in said guide means within said limits and confined to an elevation range beneath said plane, second reversible drive means for positioning said slide along said guide means, container-end engaging means retractably carried by said slide, actuating means for selectively displacing said end-engaging means between a projected container-engageable position above said plane and a retracted position below said plane, and automatic load-unload cycle-control means including longitudinally arrayed container-presence sensing means and longitudinally arrayed slide-presence sensing means; said control means having a platform-load cycle program with means for selecting the right-left direction from which a container is to be loaded onto said platform, said load-cycle program sequentially determining (a) slide drive in the selected direction to the corresponding limit of slide displacement, (b) projected actuation of said engageable means into end engagement with a container, (c) retracting displacement of said slide and the engaged container, (d) drive of said conveyor means in the retracting direction, (e) retraction actuation of said engageable means upon sensed detection that the container is at least primarily supported on said conveyor means, and (f) termination of drive of said conveyor means upon sensed detection that the container is fully supported on said conveyor means and within said limits; said control means further having a platform-unload-cycle program with means for selecting the right-left direction in which a container is to be unloaded from said platform, said unload-cycle program sequentially determining (a) drive of said conveyor means in the selected direction, (b) drive of said slide in the opposite direction, (c) slide-drive reversal and projected actuation of said engageable means into container-engageable position upon sensed detection that said slide has cleared the end of the container, and (d) termination of slide drive in the selected unload direction and retraction acturation of said engageable means upon sensed detection that said slide has achieved its limit of movement in the selected unload unload direction.

Claim 4

Load-handling mechanism for an elevator platform having an elongate rectangular surface to be selectively right-left loaded and unloaded with one of a plurality of like rectangular-prismatic containers of length at least no greater than the longitudinal limits of said platform, said platform including endless-belt conveyor means having an upper horizontal course defining the general plane of said surface and extending longitudinally between said limits, first reversible-drive means for driving said conveyor means, elongate guide means parallel to the course of said conveyor means and laterally offset therefrom, a slide slidable in said guide means within said limits and confined to an elevation range beneath said plane, second reversible drive means for positioning said slide along said guide means, container-end engaging means retractably carried by said slide, actuating means for selectively displacing said end-engaging means between a projected container-engageable position above said plane and a retracted position below said plane, and automatic load-unload cycle-control means including longitudinally arrayed container-presence sensing means and longitudinally arrayed slide-presence sensing means; said control means having a platform-load cycle program with means for selecting the right-left direction from which a container is to be loaded onto said platform, said load-cycle program sequentially determining (a) slide drive in the selected direction to the corresponding limit of slide displacement, (b) projected actuation of said engageable means into end engagement with a container, (c) retracting displacement of said slide and the engaged container, (d) drive of said conveyor means in the retracting direction, (e) retraction actuation of said engageable means upon sensed detection that the container is at least primarily supported on said conveyor means, and (f) termination of drive of said conveyor means upon sensed detection that the container is fully supported on said conveyor means and within said limits; said control means further having a platform-unload-cycle program with means for selecting the right-left direction in which a container is to be unloaded from said platform, said unload-cycle program sequentially determining (a) drive of said conveyor means in the selected direction, (b) drive of said slide in the opposite direction, (c) slide-drive reversal and projected actuation of said engageable means into container-engageable position upon sensed detection that said slide has cleared the end of the container, and (d) termination of slide drive in the selected unload direction and retraction acturation of said engageable means upon sensed detection that said slide has achieved its limit of movement in the selected unload unload direction.

Claim 5

Mechanism according to claim 2, in which the platform-load cycle program additionally includes termination of slide drive upon sensed detection that said slide is centrally positioned along said guide means.

Claim 6

Mechanism according to claim 2, in which the platform-unload cycle program additionally includes (e) slide-drive reversal upon sensed detection that said slide has achieved said limit of movement, and (f) termination of slide drive upon sensed detection that said slide is centrally positioned along said guide means.

Claim 7

Mechanism according to claim 2, in which said conveyor means comprises two like spaced parallel longitudinally extending belts and means for driving the same in unison, said guide means and slide being carried between said belts.

Claim 8

Mechanism according to claim 5, in which the overall transverse span between outer lateral limits of said spaced belts is approximately the width of a container handle thereby.

Claim 9

Mechanism according to claim 5, in which said platform includes parallel container-locating guide rails outside the outer lateral limits of said spaced belts.

Claim 10

Mechanism according to claim 1, in which said lost-motion connection includes spring means resiliently loading said element to longitudinally outer limit of lost-motion.

Claim 11

Mechanism according to claim 1, in which said lost-motion connection pivotally connects said element to said slide, said element projecting at substantially 90* to the longitudinal direction of slide guidance when at the forward limit of lost motion and being inclined at an acute angle when at the rear limit of lost motion; the formation of said element being such, in relation to the extent of lost motion and to the formation of the container part with which said element is engageable, that upon outwardly pushed displacement of the container by said element when at the rear limit of lost motion, the container is so driven to its home-returned position that upon a cycle of retraction of said container-engageable means followed by projection of the same with said element at the forward limit of lost motion, said container part will have been correctly engaged for a container-extraction displacement upon slide drive in the withdrawing direction.

Claim 12

Mechanism according to claim 1, in which said container-engageable element is one of two at longitudinal ends of a longitudinal shaft journaled in said slide, said actuating means comprising means for selectively imparting partial rotation to said shaft, for displacing said elements between retracted and projected position.

Claim 13

Mechanism according to claim 2, in which said container-engaging means includes an element having a longitudinal lost-motion connection to said slide.

Claim 14

Load-handling mechanism for an elevator platform having platform elongate rectangular surface to be selectively right-left loaded and unloaded with one of a plurality of containers, a container of size accommodated by said surface and to be thus loaded and unloaded, said platform including endless-belt conveyor means having an upper horizontal course defining the general plane of said surface and extending longitudinally from end to end of said platform, first reversible-drive means for driving said conveyor means, elongate guide means parallel to the course of said conveyor means and laterally offset therefrom, a slide slidable in said guide means within the longitudinal confines of said platoform and confined to an elevation range beneath said plane, second reversible drive means for positioning said slide along said guide means, an engageable member at an end of said container, container-end engaging means including a member retractably carried by said slide for engagement with said container-end member, said container-engaging means including an element having a longitudinal lost-motion connection to one of said members, actuating means for selectively displacing said end-engaging means between a projected container-engageable position above said Plane and a retracted position below said plane, and automatic load-unload cycle-control means including longitudinally arrayed container-presence sensing means and longitudinally arrayed slide-presence sensing means governing belt transport of a container essentially for those positions when a container is at least primarily supported on said conveyor means, said control means further responding to the sensed location and degree of container loading on said conveyor means for governing actuation of said container-engaging means to projected position only (a) when the container is less than primarily supported on said conveyor means and (b) when said slide is in a position longitudinally offset from the container.

Claim 15

Load-handling mechanism for an elevator platform having platform elongate rectangular surface to be selectively right-left loaded and unloaded with one of a plurality of containers, a container of size accommodated by said surface and to be thus loaded and unloaded, said platform including endless-belt conveyor means having an upper horizontal course defining the general plane of said surface and extending longitudinally from end to end of said platform, first reversible-drive means for driving said conveyor means, elongate guide means parallel to the course of said conveyor means and laterally offset therefrom, a slide slidable in said guide means within the longitudinal confines of said platoform and confined to an elevation range beneath said plane, second reversible drive means for positioning said slide along said guide means, an engageable member at an end of said container, container-end engaging means including a member retractably carried by said slide for engagement with said container-end member, said container-engaging means including an element having a longitudinal lost-motion connection to one of said members, actuating means for selectively displacing said end-engaging means between a projected container-engageable position above said Plane and a retracted position below said plane, and automatic load-unload cycle-control means including longitudinally arrayed container-presence sensing means and longitudinally arrayed slide-presence sensing means governing belt transport of a container essentially for those positions when a container is at least primarily supported on said conveyor means, said control means further responding to the sensed location and degree of container loading on said conveyor means for governing actuation of said container-engaging means to projected position only (a) when the container is less than primarily supported on said conveyor means and (b) when said slide is in a position longitudinally offset from the container.

Claim 16

Mechanism according to claim 12, in which said lost-motion connection is to said slide-carried member.