Transfer device

A transfer device for moving objects that are supported on shafts from a receiving station to a transfer station, said shafts being disposed in adjacent substantially parallel relationship, said device comprising:

• a track means extending from said receiving station to said transfer station;
• a moveable carriage means positioned on said track means, said carriage being positioned for movement along said track means, said carriage including means for returning said shafts from said transfer station to said receiving station;
• moveable lifting means positioned on said track means, said lifting means being disposed for engaging said shafts so that said shafts and the objects supported thereon can be transferred from said receiving station to said transfer station, each lifting means being moveable independently to engage said shafts so that said shafts and said objects supported thereon can be independently engaged and lifted from said receiving station by said lifting means;
• and
• gripper means located adjacent said transfer station, said gripper means being disposed to grip said shafts that support said objects said gripper means being movable in a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shafts, said gripper means being capable of withdrawing said shaft from said object by said movement of said gripper means, said gripper means having a storage rack for holding said shafts that have been removed from said objects.

A transfer device for moving objects that are supported on a first shaft and a second shaft from a receiving station to a transfer station;

• said first and second shafts being disposed in adjacent substantially parallel relationship;
• said device comprising:
• track means extending from said receiving station to said transfer station, said track means having opposed guide beams that are disposed in spaced apart relationship with said receiving and transfer stations, said guide beams extending from said receiving station to said transfer station;
• a moveable carriage positioned on said guide beams of said track means, said carriage being moveable between said receiving station and said transfer station;
• drive means positioned on said carriage and operatively connected to said guide beams of said track means, said drive means acting to advance said carriage along said track means;
• moveable lifting means positioned on said carriage, said moveable lifting means extending from said carriage in a direction towards said first and second shafts, said portion of said lifting means extending towards said first and second shafts including a hook on each side, said hooks being disposed to engage said ends of said first and second shafts;
• advancement means positioned on said carriage and operatively connected to said lifting means, said advancement means being capable of moving said lifting means in a direction towards and away from said first and second shafts so that said hooks on said lifting means can engage and lift said shafts and the objects positioned on said shafts;
• gripper means positioned adjacent said transfer station, said gripper means being disposed to engage an end of said first and second shafts, said gripper means being moveable in a direction away from said objects positioned on said first and second shafts so that said gripper means can remove said first and second shafts from said objects;
• a moveable tray means connected to said moveable carriage positioned on said track means, said tray means extending from said carriage in a direction towards said first and second shafts, said tray means being disposed for receiving said first and second shafts from said gripper means after said first and second shafts have been removed from said objects by said gripper means, said tray means being moveable with said carriage to transfer said first and second shafts from said transfer station to said receiving station;
• and,
• advancement means positioned on said carriage and operatively connected to said tray means, said advancement means being capable of moving said tray means in a direction towards and away from said first and second shafts.

A transfer device for moving rolls of paper that are supported on a first shaft and a second shaft from a receiving station to a transfer station;

• said first and second shafts being disposed in adjacent substantially parallel relationship;
• said device comprising:
• a track means extending from said receiving station to said transfer station, said track means having opposed guide beams that are disposed in spaced apart relationship with said receiving and transfer stations, said guide beams extending from said receiving station to said transfer station, said track means being positioned in spaced apart relationship and above said receiving and transfer stations;
• a moveable carriage positioned on said guide beams of said track means, said carriage being moveable between said receiving station and said transfer station;
• drive means positioned on said carriage and operatively connected to said guide beams of said track means, said drive means acting to advance said carriage along said track means;
• moveable lifting means positioned in substantially the center of said carriage and moveable lifting means positioned at one end of said carriage, said moveable lifting means extending from each side of said carriage in a direction towards said first and second shafts, said portion of said lifting means extending towards said first and second shafts including a hook, said hooks being disposed to engage said ends of said first and second shafts, said hooks connected to said lifting means located substantially in said center of said carriage being disposed to engage said first shaft and said lifting means located at said end of said carriage being disposed to engage said second shaft;
• advancement means positioned on said carriage and operatively connected to each of said lifting means, said advancement means being capable of individually moving said lifting means in a direction towards and away from said first and second shafts so that said hooks on said lifting means can engage and lift said shafts and the rolls of paper positioned on said shafts;
• a moveable transfer carriage positioned adjacent said transfer station, said carriage being moveable in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said first and second shaft and in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said first and second shafts;
• gripper means positioned on said moveable transfer carriage, said gripper means being disposed to engage an end of said first and second shafts, said transfer carriage and gripper means being moveable in a direction away from said object positioned on said first and second shafts so that said gripper means can remove said first and second shafts from said rolls of paper;
• drive means positioned on said transfer carriage for moving said transfer carriage and said gripper means in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first and second shafts;
• a moveable tray means connected to said moveable carriage that is positioned on said track means, said tray means extending from said carriage in a direction toward said first and second shafts, said tray means being disposed for receiving said first and second shafts from said gripper means after said first and second shafts have been removed from said rolls of paper by said gripper means, said tray means being moveable with said carriage to transfer said first and second shafts from said transfer station to said receiving station;
• advancement means positioned on said carriage and operatively connected to said tray means, said advancement means being capable of moving said tray means in a direction towards and away from said first and second shafts.