NZ200374A - Apparatus for unloading pallets and stack-storing same;goods swept off pallet - Google Patents

Description

200374 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL NO. 200374 DATED: 22 April 1982 "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS" We, C B S ENGINEERING LIMITED, a New Zealand company of Wharf Road, Atatu Nsrth, Auckland, New Zgaland, dg her§t>y the inyentign for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 200374 This invention relates to material handling apparatus and in particular is concerned with a pallet unloading apparatus.

An intention of this invention is to provide an apparatus for at least facilitating the unloading of pallets and in particular the unloading of contents off a pallet and onto materials transporting apparatus.

According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a pallet unloading device comprising a frame supporting a transversely disposed platform and an upright transversely disposed backing plate with a lower extremity of the backing plate being spaced adjacently upward of a top of the platform, longitudinally extending tracks incorporated in the frame to support either the platform or the backing plate for movement therealong such that the backing plate straddles the platform, the spacing of the backing plate above the platform providing clearance for a pallet on the platform such that with such movement goods on the pallet will be swept clear thereof by the backing plate.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a pallet unloading device as defined in the preceding paragraph wherein the backing plate is fixed medially of the frame with the tracks extending fore and aft thereof and the platform incorporates a downwardly retractable guard rail along a forward edge thereof.

According to a third aspect of this invention there is provided a pallet unloading device as defined in either of the two immediately preceding paragraphs wherein the platform incorporates a lifting means supporting a raisable section thereof and the frame incorporates a pallet storage rack, the rack being disposed to the rear of the backing plate. 200374 In further describing the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawing (Fig.l) of a preferred embodiment. Fig. 1 is a partly schematic perspective view of the apparatus with component parts truncated to facilitate clarity.

A main frame 3 is preferably fabricated from lengths of steel channel-section and/or box-section. Frame 3 comprises a base 5 consisting of spaced apart transverse members 5- joined by lateral members 5-. Base 5 supports a track 9 (described in more detail hereinafter) adjacently above each side member 5- and a backing plate 6. Backing plate 6 is disposed transversely of the base 5 c d medially between a forward end 5- and a rear end 5—.

Backing plate 6 is disposed vertically of base 5 and comprises cL b lateral uprights 6- supporting transverse members 6- to which backing plate 6 is affixed. Backing plate 6 is disposed toward the front 5- of the apparatus and is spaced clear of base 5. More particularly lower transverse member 6- is set-up on base 5 to provide a clearance for a pallet on a platform 8 to travel there beneath as more particularly described hereinafter.

A platform 8 is preferably disposed adjacently above ground level and is supported for travel in lateral tracks 9. Tracks 9 extend beneath backing plate 6 to the rear 5- of the apparatus. In a preferred embodiment a storage rack 7 is formed at the rear of backing plate 6 and tracks 9 align and cooperate therewith to store pallets. 200374 Platform 8 preferably comprises a carriage frame 8- the lateral members of which are mounted in tracks 9. Frame 8- supports a c planar top 8- formed for example from steel plate. Platform 8 is dimensioned to be conunensurate to a conventional goods storage pallet. In the loading mode depicted the rear edge of platform 8 is disposed adjacently forward of backing plate 6. The arrangement is such that as platform 8 with a pallet thereon passes beneath backing plate 6 goods on the pallet will contact backing plate 6 and effectively be pushed clear of the trailing edge of the platform 8.

A guard rail 11 mounted in guides 12 forms part of platform 8.

Guard rail 11 extends across the forward edge of platform 8 and is preferably mounted at its ends on worm-screws (not depicted) housed in columns forming guides 12 for the rail 11. The height of rail 11 is commensurate to the height of a conventional pallet. Actuating means for example a suitable electric or hydraulic motor is provided to rotate the worm-screws to enable the raising and lowering of rail 11. Preferably a longitudinally disposed rebate 13 is provided adjacent the upper edge of rail 11. Rail 11 is provided to protect a forward edge of a pallet on platform 8, rebate 13 being provided to receive a forward edge of, for example,a tray of a fork lift tractor. c Rail 11 can be raised and lowered relative to the top 8- of platform 8 Platform 8 preferably incorporates a raisable section 15 preferably section 15 forming a central section of the top 8- of the platform 8. Section 15 is supported independently of the remainder of the c top 8- on lifting means (not depicted) incorporated into the carriage 200374 frame 8- of the platform 8. The lifting means preferably comprises an hydraulically operated scissor type linkage supporting the hoist section 15. By extending the linkage section 15 can be raised clear of the top 8-. The extent of the raising is commensurate to the 5 height of a pallet to achieve stacking as hereinafter described.

Pallet storage rack 7 is provided at the rear of backing plate 6.

Rack 7 incorporates upwardly disposed corner guides 14 to receive and locate unloaded pallets. Gravity trip catches 16 are provided adjacent the lower ends of the guides 14. Guides 14 are disposed 10 commensurately to the corners of a pallet and are aligned with pallet positioning means provided on platform 8. After platform 8 with a pallet thereon has travelled beneath backing plate 6 the tracks 9 limit the travel of the platform 8 such that a pallet thereon is aligned with the guides 14. With the raising of section 15 a pallet 15 can be lodged in guides 14 and supported therein by catches 16.

Subsequent pallets will similarly be lodged in guides 14 and in so doing raising previously stored pallets within rack 7.

In use, with rail 11 lowered a loaded pallet is placed on platform 8. A materials transporting vehicle, for example, a fork hoist type vehicle having a plate like loading tray is positioned in impingement or at least adjacent the forward edge of platform 8 • In the preferred embodiment, the forward edge of the vehicles tray is located in the rebate 13 of rail 11 which has previously been raised to protect the RJ9groil forward edge of the pallet. The forward movement of the vehicle "W // // pushes the platform 8 rearwardly beneath backing plate 6 and thus a load on the pallet is forced onto the supporting tray of the vehicle. 200374 In an alternative embodiment as with rail 11 platform 8 is mounted on worm-screws (not depicted) incorporated in the tracks 9 and appropriately driven to traverse platform 8 along tracks 9. Thus a receiving vehicle need not push platform 8.

Further, preferably the raising and lowering of rail 11 is controlled by sensors which can in turn control the operation of the platform 8. Further controls can be provided to automatically operate the lifting means for raisable section 15 following a traverse of platform 8 beneath backing plate 6. It will be appreciated that other controls 10 may be utilised to render operation of the apparatus as sophisticated as required.

With a complete traverse beneath backing plate 6 a pallet on platform 8 will be free of its load and disposed on platform 8 to the rear of backing plate 6 in alignment with rack 7. With the raising 15 of section 15 the pallet can be lodged in rack 7 as aforesaid and with lowering of section 15 the platform 8 returned enabling repetition of the operation.

In an alternative embodiment platform 8 may be fixed and backing plate 6 mounted on tracks as to be capable of traversing platform 8 20 to provide a substantially equivalent operation. In such an alternative embodiment rack 7 can be formed integrally with backing plate 6 to thus be in an appropriate position above platform 8 following traversing operation. 20037

Claims (8)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A pallet unloading device comprising a frame supporting a transversely disposed platform and an upright transversely disposed backing plate with a lower extremity of the backing plate being spaced adjacently upward of a top of the platform, longitudinally 5 extending tracks incorporated in the frame to support either the platform or the backing plate for movement therealong such that the backing plate straddles the platform, the spacing of the backing plate above the platform providing clearance for a pallet on the platform such that with such movement goods on the pallet will be 10 swept clear thereof by the backing plate.

2. A pallet unloading device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the backing plate is fixed medially of the frame with the tracks extending fore and aft thereof and the platform incorporates a downwardly retractable guard rail along a forward edge thereof. 15

3. A pallet unloading device as claimed in either of the preceding claims wherein the platform incorporates a lifting means supporting a raisable section thereof and the frame incorporates a pallet storage rack, the rack being disposed to the rear of the backing plate.

4. A pallet unloading device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the rack 20 incorporates four upright corner guides mounted to the frame at a spacing commensurate to a pallet with trip catches provided adjacent the lower ends of the guides. 200374 - 8 -

5. A pallet unloading device as claimed in claim 3 when dependant on claim 2 or claim k wherein a rebate is formed in the 'Pace of the guard rail adjacent the upper edge thereof.

6. A pallet unloading device as claimed in any one of the claims 2-5 wherein 5 the guard rail is mounted at its ends on worm-screws coupled for rotation by a prime mover to raise and lower the rail.

7. A pallet unloading device as claimed in any one of the claims 2.— 6 inclusive wherein the platform is mounted for movement within the tracks on worm-screws coupled for rotation by a prime mover. 10

8. A pallet unloading device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing. C.B.S. -IMITED By its' HENRY/HUGHES LIMITED