Pallet-switching system and conveyor
AssigneeConcept & Forme Developpements SA
InventorGérard PITANCE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system having an automated tower or vertical magazine storage tower may include palletization system consisting of pallets, as well as a pallet-swapper incorporated at the base of the tower. The tower uses palletization to store and transport loads. The swapper includes a supporting structure, at least two movable frames each having pairs of rollers on the lateral sides thereof, and a conveying system located on the bearing structure to allow the movement of the movable frames and connected to a drive shaft. Each movable frame is capable, in use, of carrying a single pallet, loaded or not, the pallet being separate from the movable frame that supports it.
Claims11
A system comprising a storage tower of an automated tower or vertical warehouse, comprising a palletization system having pallets and a pallet switcher integrated at the base of the tower, the tower being configured to use using palletization for the storage and transport of loads, the switcher comprising:
- a support structure having beams of sufficient dimensions to receive a load represented by a weight of the storage tower and an expected maximum weight of loaded pallets;
- at least two mobile frames, each of the mobile frames comprising a first pair of rollers and a second pair of rollers on lateral sides;
- a conveyor system located on the support structure and configured to allow movement of the mobile frames, the conveyor system being connected to a drive shaft;
- a set of guiding grooves forming a closed loop with separate rails and a guiding path for each mobile frame, the set of guiding grooves comprising a first path and a second path, the grooves accommodating the rollers of the mobile frames;
- and
- a cam-switching system for the pairs of rollers in the guiding grooves;
- wherein the cam-switching system being is configured to guide, in use, the pairs of rollers so that the first pair takes the first path and the second pair takes the second path so as to move the mobile frames along the closed loop while remaining permanently parallel to each other horizontally and oriented in the same direction;
- each mobile frame being configured to carry, in use, a single pallet, the pallet being distinct from the supporting mobile frame, wherein the beams of the support structure comprise an assembly of at least three metal sheets each of the sheets comprising specific cutouts forming, in combination, the guiding grooves and housings for the cam-switching system of the pairs of rollers in the guiding grooves.
A pallet switcher comprising:
- a support structure;
- at least two mobile frames, a first mobile frame and a second mobile frame, each comprising a first pair of rollers and a second pair of rollers on lateral sides;
- a conveyor system located on the support structure and configured to allow movement of the mobile frames, the conveyor system being connected to a drive shaft;
- a set of guiding grooves forming a closed loop with separate rails and a guiding path for each mobile frame, the set of guiding grooves comprising a first path and a second path, the grooves accommodating the rollers of the mobile frames;
- and
- a cam-switching system for the pairs of rollers in the guiding grooves;
- wherein the cam-switching system being is configured to be suitable for guiding, in use, the pairs of rollers so that the first pair takes the first path and the second pair takes the second path so as to move the mobile frames along the closed loop while remaining permanently parallel to each other horizontally and oriented in the same direction;
- each mobile frame being configured to carry, in use, a single pallet, said pallet being distinct from the supporting mobile frame;
- wherein beams of the support structure comprise at least three metal sheets each of the sheets comprising specific cutouts forming, in combination, the guiding grooves and housings for the cam-switching system of the pairs of rollers in the guiding grooves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.