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US 3,986,621 AGranted
Flap sensor and hoist position control for palletizer
AssigneeSimplimatic Engineering Company
InventorRobert E. Bowser
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSimplimatic Engineering Company
InventorRobert E. Bowser
Estimating the term…
Apparatus is provided for sensing the position of the top of a carton situated on an upwardly moving hoist beneath the draw plate of a palletizer. The carton top has a flap thereon which, in some instances, is partially opened and which will require a given force to close it such that it does not interfere with the sensing of the position of the top of the carton. The apparatus terminates the upward movement of the hoist when the top of the carton is in the desired position and then withdraws to permit the draw plate to deposit the next tier of cartons on the hoist. The apparatus comprises a support situated below the draw plate and a movable carriage mounted on the support. An element extending from the carriage, which normally intersects the path of movement of the carton, is mounted on the carriage for limited pivotal movement with respect thereto in response to a movement of the top of the carton, between an initial pivotal position along the path prior to the desired position of the carton top and a final pivotal position corresponding to the desired position of the carton top. Means are provided for urging the element towards the initial position by exerting a force on the element greater than the force required to close the flap, if same is opened. Control means are operatively connected to the element for actuation when the element is in the final pivotal position to terminate the movement of the hoist and to actuate means for moving the carriage to a position where the element is withdrawn from the path of carton movement so that the area above the carton is unobstructed. Means are provided for preventing the element from abruptly "snapping back" due to the urging thereof towards its initial pivotal position, as the carriage is withdrawn.
Apparatus for sensing the position of a wall of a carton, without obstructing same, said wall having a flap thereon which is some instances may be partially opened and which will require a given force to move said flap to the closed position and for deactuating a carton moving mechanism, upon which the carton is situated, when said wall is in a given position, said apparatus comprising a support, said mechanism moving said carton relative to said support in a first direction, a carriage mounted on said support, an element extending from said carriage normally intersecting the path of movement of said wall and mounted on said carriage for limited movement with resepct thereto, in response to the movement of said wall, between a first position along said path prior to said given position and a second position corresponding to said given position, means for urging said element towards said first position by exerting a force on said element greater than said given force required to close the flap, if same is present and opened, control means operatively connected to said element for actuation when said element is in said second position to deactuate said carton moving mechanism, and means for moving said carriage in a second direction relative to said housing to a position wherein said element is withdrawn from said path.
A palletizer comprising a support, a hoist movably mounted to said support, article depositing means mounted on said support above said hoist and adapted to deposit layer of articles on said hoist, means for moving said hoist to a given position to accept the articles thereon and means for sensing the position of the top surface of the top layer of articles on said hoist, without obstructing same, corresponding surface having a flap thereon which in some instances may be partially opened and which will require a given force to move said flap to a closed position and for deactuating said moving means when said surface is in said given position comprising a carriage mounted on said support, an element extending from said carriage, normally intersecting the path of movement of said surface and mounted on said carriage for limited movement with respect thereto, in response to the movement of said surface, between a first position along said path prior to said given position and a second position corresonding to said given position, means for urging said element towards said first position by exerting a force on said element greater than said given force required to close the flap, if same is present and opened, control means operatively connected to said element for actuation when said element is in said second position to deactuate said moving means and means for moving said carriage to a position wherein said element is withdrawn from the path of movement of said surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.