Apparatus and method for loading drums into drum container

An apparatus for loading drums, comprising:

• a drum feeder transferring a drum;
• a drum container into which drums transferred through the drum feeder are sequentially loaded;
• a support frame on which a lid of the drum container is placed when the drums are being loaded into the drum container;
• and
• a crane having
• a gripper which includes jaws for gripping a drum and latches for latching a drum container lid, for selectively gripping and transferring a drum or the drum container lid, and
• a lifter on which the gripper is mounted for upward and downward movement and which is transferred along guide rails in forward and backward, or left and right, directions, wherein the drum container lid includes
• a lid plate placed on a body of the drum container, and
• a latched part protruding upward from an upper surface of the lid plate and having a flange protruding outward from an upper circumference of the lid plate.

A method of loading drums into a drum container using a gripper having jaws gripping a drum and latches latching a lid of the drum container into which the drums are loaded, and selectively gripping and transferring a drum or the drum container lid, the method comprising:

• latching the latches of the gripper on a latched part located on an upper surface of the drum container lid;
• transferring and placing the drum container lid, coupled to the gripper, to and on a support frame;
• gripping a drum such that the jaws of the gripper contact an outer surface of the drum;
• sequentially loading drums into the drum container;
• latching the latches of the gripper on the latched part of the drum container lid placed on the support frame when the loading of the drums has been completed;
• and
• placing the drum container lid on the drum container body.