US 4,505,630 AGranted

Article transfer apparatus

AssigneeBesser Company

InventorsWilliam C. Kaschner, Elroy Bobolts, Jr.

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods for transferring articles, such as concrete blocks, from a conveyor to a curing kiln and return comprise a carriage movable along a path leading from the block conveyor to any selected one of a number of curing kilns. The carriage supports a rotary turntable on which is mounted a transfer vehicle provided with article supporting forks that are vertically movable so as to shift articles off and onto the block conveyor, deposit the articles within the kiln, and retrieve the articles from the kiln. the transfer vehicle is movable horizontally relatively to the turntable to enable the article supporting forks to overlie the block conveyor, and the transfer vehicle also is movable horizontally relatively to the turntable and carriage into and out of the selected kiln.

Claims3

Dependent claims

In combination with a concrete block curing kiln having a plurality of spaced apart, longitudinally extending compartments extending laterally of a path traversing all of said compartments at corresponding ends thereof, each of said compartments havinng therein a pair of uniformly spaced apart, longitudinally extending tracks, apparatus for transferring a rack of concrete blocks from one position to another, said apparatus comprising a carriage movable along said path between said positions;

a turntable;
means mounting said turntable on said carriage for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis;
a pair of spaced apart main rails carried by said turntable;
a transfer vehicle including lift means for supporting a rack of blocks and carrying said rack into any selected one of said kiln compartments;
drive means for moving said lift means vertically;
main wheel means mounting said transfer vehicle on the main rails of said turntable for movements with and relative to said turntable;
driving means powered from said carriage for driving said transfer vehicle off said carriage into any selected one of said compartments and return;
auxiliary wheel means independent of said main wheel means carried by said transfer vehicle;
auxiliary support rails independent of said main rails mounted on said turntable for movement from a retracted position within the confines of said carriage to an extended position beyond the confines of said carriage and adjacent the tracks of any selected compartment, the spacing between the tracks in each of said kiln compartments corresponding to the spacing between the rails of a selected one of said main rail means or said auxiliary rail means, said auxiliary wheel means and said auxiliary rail means supporting said transfer vehicle as the latter is driven off and onto said turntable;
drive means coupled to said turntable for angularly moving said turntable about said vertical axis to a position in which said one of said rail means aligns with said tracks such that the tracks form a continuation thereof;
and means for moving said auxiliary rail means between said retracted and extended positions.

8 more elements

Apparatus for transferring a rack of uncured concrete blocks from a first position along a path to a selected one of a plurality of curing kiln compartments spaced longitudinally along and at one side of said path, said apparatus comprising a carriage movable along said path from said first position to a second position adjacent any selected one of said compartments;

a rotary turntable;
means mounting said turntable on said carriage for movements with and relative to the latter;
spaced apart main rail means on said turntable;
a transfer vehicle;
main wheels on said transfer vehicle spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing between said main rail means for supporting said transfer vehicle on said turntable;
auxiliary wheels on said transfer vehicle spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between said main wheels;
rack support lift means carried by said transfer vehicle for supporting a rack to be transferred;
motor means for moving said lift means vertically;
means coupled to said carriage for driving the latter along said path between said first and second positions;
drive means coupled to said transfer vehicle and powered from said carriage operable to drive the latter off said turntable and in a direction into and out of said selected one of said compartments;
tracks in each of said comartments spaced according to the spacing between said main rail means for supporting the main wheels of said transfer vehicle;
drive means for angularly moving said turntable about a vertical axis to a position in which said main rail means align with said tracks such that said tracks form a continuation thereof;
auxiliary rail means spaced according to the spacing between said auxiliary wheels, said auxiliary rail means being independent of said main rail means and mounted on said turntable for movement from a retracted position within the confines of said carriage to an extended position beyond the confines of said carriage between the tracks of said selected compartment and in which said auxiliary rail means and said auxiliary wheels are enabled to support said transfer vehicle as the latter is driven off said turntable;
and means for moving said auxiliary rail means between said retracted and extended positions.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/558,379Filed 5 Dec 1983 · continuation
Priority: 23 Jan 1978
Granted: 19 Mar 1985
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F27D 3/12
Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge: travelling or movable supports or containers for the charge
B65G 49/085
For ceramic mouldings: for loading or unloading racks or similar frames; loading racks therefor
F27D 3/0021
Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge: of ceramic ware
F27D 2003/0061
Comprising tracks, e.g. rails and wagon: with means for changing track