Turn-over device for slab materials

Claim 2

A lever-operated turn-over device for slabs displaced by a conveyor along a path comprising: a first pair of movable elongated arms mounted parallel to one another and arranged beneath the path of said conveyor in a horizontal position; a second pair of swingable elongated arms lying in planes parallel to said first pair of arms; each of said first pair of arms having a wheel mounted at a first end thereof; a track engaging each of said wheels and forming a guide therefor; a drive means articulated to said first end of each of said first pair of arms for moving said arms along said tracks into said conveyor path and engagement with said slab to lift said slab from said conveyor; another articulation between said drive means and a second end of each of said first pair of arms for swinging said first arms about said wheels into a vertical position and beyond; and a further articulation between said drive means and said second pair of arms for swinging said second pair into a vertical position adjacent said first pair of arms for receiving said slab therefrom and returning said slab to said conveyor in a turned-over position.

Claim 3

The device as defined in claim 1 wherein: said drive means includes a motor coupled to a first crank and a second crank for the simultaneous rotation thereof; a first connecting rod articulated at one end to said first crank; a first lever fixedly mounted on a first rotatable shaft and articulated to the other end of said first connecting rod; a second lever fixedly mounted on said first rotatable shaft; a second connecting rod articulated at one end to said second lever; a third lever fixedly mounted on a second rotatable shaft and articulated to the other end of said second connecting rod; a pair of fourth and fifth levers fixedly mounted on said second rotatable shaft; a pair of third and fourth connecting rods articulated at one end to said fourth and fifth levers and each rod articulated at the other end to the first end of a respective first arm; a pair of sixth and seventh levers fixedly mounted on said first rotatable shaft; a pair of fifth and sixth connecting rods articulated at one end to said sixth and said seventh levers and each of said fifth and sixth rods articulated at the other end to the second end of a respective first arm; a seventh connecting rod articulated at one end to said second crank; an eighth lever fixedly mounted on a third rotatable shaft and articulated to the other end of said seventh connecting rod; and said second pair of arms fixedly mounted on said third rotatable shaft.

Claim 4

The device as defined in claim 1 wherein: said pair of tracks are each formed with upper and lower runs; a first pair of pivoted switches one provided at one end of said tracks and maintained in a closed position by gravity for guiding said wheels of each of said first arms to said upper run during movement of said first arms in one direction and opened by movement of said first arms in the other direction; and a second pair of pivoted switches, one provided at the other end of said tracks and biased in an open position by a spring for guiding said wheels to said lower run of said tracks during movement of each of said first arms in the other direction, said second switches being closeable by the passage of said first arms in the forward direction.

Claim 5

The device as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a third pair of arms, one of them being pivotally mounted adjacent each of said second arms and engaged thereby for movement therewith into a position providing a support for said slab when said second arms are in a near vertical position.

Claim 6

The device as defined in claim 4 wherein: said first pair of arms are each provided with a plurality of rollers for engagement with said slab; an abutment formed near each of said first ends for support of said slab as said first arms approach a vertical position; said second pair of arms are each provided with a plurality of rollers for engagement with said slab; said third pair of arms are each provided with a plurality of rollers for engagement with said slab; a projecting pin formed on each of said third pair of arms, and a slot formed in each of said second pair of arms for engagement with a respective one of said pins.

Claim 7

The device as defined in claim 1 wherein: said drive means includes a first hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted on a base and articulated to each of said first and second ends of each of said first pair of arms; and a second hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted on said base and articulated to said second pair of arms.