US 5,174,712 AGranted

Apparatus for holding stationary a stack of articles while lifting a sheet by suction from the top of the stack

AssigneeFocke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)

InventorsHeinz Focke, Kurt Liedtke, deceased

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Abstract

On pallets loaded with several layers (tiers 11), relatively thin intermediate layers 13 made of cardboard or the like are usually located between the tiers 11. These intermediate layers have to be removed after a tier 11 has been unloaded. For this purpose, a suction lifter 16 with a suction plate 17 is provided, which lifts and discharges the free intermediate layer by means of a vacuum. To avoid undesirable relative displacements of the stacked articles (blank stacks 12), the suction lifter 16 is provided with holding-down devices 22. These devices 22 pass through openings 23 in the intermediate layer 13 and come to abut the blank stacks 12, such that the latter are fixed in place when the intermediate layer 13 is lifted. Profile members 31 are arranged on the suction lifter 16 for further securing the articles (blank stacks 12). These members 31 enter cavities 32 formed between adjacent articles (blank stacks 12) in a form-fitting positive manner.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An apparatus for lifting a planar sheet (13) from top surfaces of a plurality of vertically oriented stacks (12) of articles (30),

wherein the planar sheet (13) contains a plurality of openings (23);
wherein said apparatus comprises a suction lifter (16) which contains a plurality of suction bores and which is adapted to be placed on a top side of the sheet (13) with said suction bores in contact therewith, and
a plurality of holding-down devices (22) which are mounted on said suction lifter (16) for vertical movement relative thereto, which are dimensioned to permit them easily to pass through the openings (23) when said suction lifter (16) contacts the sheet (13), and which bear vertically against said top surfaces of the stacks (12) while the sheet (13) is grasped and lifted off the top surfaces by said suction lifter (16);
wherein said holding-down devices (22) are vertically movably mounted on said suction lifter (16) and resiliently loaded such that lower ends (24) of the holding-down devices (22) abut said top surfaces of said stacks (12) during a first stage of upward movement of the suction lifter (16) with the grasped sheet (13);
and
wherein each of the holding-down devices (22) comprises a stamp plate (24) which abuts a bottom side of the suction lifter (16) while projecting into an opening (23) of the sheet (13) and when the holding-down devices (22) are in a retracted position as a result of the suction lifter (16) being placed in contact with the sheet (13).

3 more elements

An apparatus for lifting a planar sheet (13) from top surfaces of a plurality of vertically oriented stacks (12) of articles (30),

wherein the planar sheet (13) contains a plurality of openings (23);
wherein said apparatus comprises a suction lifter (16) which contains a plurality of suction bores and which is adapted to be placed on a top side of the sheet (13) with said suction bores in contact therewith, and
a plurality of holding-down devices (22) which are mounted on said suction lifter (16) for vertical movement relative thereto, which are dimensioned to permit them easily to pass through the openings (23) when said suction lifter (16) contacts the sheet (13), and which bear vertically against said top surfaces of the stacks (12) while the sheet (13) is grasped and lifted off the top surfaces by said suction lifter (16);
said apparatus further comprising a planar sheet (13) containing a plurality of openings (23);
means for lowering said suction lifter (16) into contact with said sheet (13) to grasp the sheet by suction, and for raising said suction lifter (16) to lift off the grasped sheet (13);
and
means coupling said suction lifter (16) to a source of vacuum;
wherein said planar sheet (13) is initially located in a horizontal plane and sandwiched between top and bottom tiers (11) of stacks (12);
said apparatus further comprising means (15) for pushing the top tier off in the horizontal direction to expose said planar sheet prior to lowering of said suction lifter (16).

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.