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(11) | EP 0 905 082 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A device for picking up and transporting loads |
| (57) A device for picking up and transporting loads comprises a unit (3) that moves along
two horizontal axes (X, Y) at right angles to each other and along a vertical axis
(Z). The unit 3 consists of: a horizontal beam (4) that mounts means (5) for picking
up and releasing the loads; means (6) for driving the beam (4) in a vertical plane
that comprises the vertical axis (Z) and capable of raising and lowering the beam
in a straight line or at an angle (α) that can be varied in both directions; a carriage
(7) made up of a first, lower frame (8) that mounts the drive means (6) and that is
rotatably connected to a second, upper, power-driven frame (9) that runs on a first
pair of rails (10), the two frames (8, 9) being rotatably linked to each other by
connecting means (11) equipped with a power-driven rack (20) for rotating the first
frame (8) about the axis (Z); and a pantograph (13) for stabilizing the horizontal
beam (4) in the vertical plane during up and down movements. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for picking up and transporting heavy loads, the device being used in particular for selecting, loading, transporting and unloading products. The invention applies especially to the sector of handling iron and steel products, such as groups of steel rods, iron sheets, etc.
[0002] The present description will therefore refer by way of example to the handling of metal items such as bars, rods or sheets but without thereby restricting the scope of the invention which can also be applied to products made of other kinds of materials (such as plastic or other non-ferrous materials).
[0003] At present, in companies where iron and steel material is kept, the standard procedure is to store the products according to groups or series with the same specifications, loading and unloading them into the warehouse where they are checked (for weight, number of items, etc.) and stocked.
[0004] These operations are carried out by personnel using appropriate carriages running on rails and auxiliary devices designed to move and lift each group of products selected or to be stored in appropriate containers where the products are divided by type and size.
[0005] The products must therefore be handled twice, first by the carriers of the supplier on its arrival and then by the warehouse department of the end user. All these handling operations are not only slow and labour-intensive but also involve a certain amount of risk for the personnel concerned since just a few of these items reach considerable weights (in the order of several hundred kilos).
[0006] The Applicant has therefore designed and made a device for picking up and transporting loads in general that can be used to handle groups of products safely, easily and quickly without the direct intervention of personnel and in such a way as to enable the groups to be loaded and unloaded irrespective of the position which the latter present or must present when they are unloaded.
[0007] The technical characteristics of the invention according to the above mentioned aims are laid out in the claims below and the advantages of the disclosure are apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic front view of the device for picking up and transporting heavy loads made in accordance with the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a scaled-down, schematic plan view from above of the device illustrated in Figure 1;
- Figures 3 and 4 are scaled-down, schematic front views of the device illustrated in the above figures, showing the device in two working conditions;
- Figure 5 is a scaled-up detail view of the device illustrated in the above figures showing, in a schematic front view, a part of a crossbeam equipped with another embodiment of the pickup means;
- Figure 6 is a scaled-up detail view of the device illustrated in the above figures showing, in a schematic front view, another embodiment of the pickup means of the device.
[0008] Although the present description refers to iron and steel products, the device can be used equally effectively to pick up and transport heavy loads consisting of products made of other materials. The device comprises a unit 3 that moves along two horizontal axes X and Y and up and down along a vertical axis Z.
[0009] To do this, the unit 3 comprises: a horizontal beam 4 that mounts means 5 for picking up or releasing the groups 1 of products 2; means 6 for driving the beam 4 in a vertical plane that comprises the vertical axis Z; a carriage 7 that is supported by and runs on a first pair or rails 10; a pantograph 13 for stabilizing the beam 4 during its vertical movements and a unit 14 to activate and control the working components of the mobile unit 3.
[0010] Looking in more detail, again at Figure 1, the pickup means 5 mounted on the horizontal beam 4 can consist of two electromagnetic units 16 that can be switched on and off by the unit 14 and that are located at the ends of the beam 4. The units 16 may be supplemented by hooks 25 located centrally on the ends of the beam 4 to be used in conjunction with chains 26 (see Figures 3 and 4) in order to better secure the groups 1 of products 2 after the stable contact made by the units 16.
[0011] The above mentioned means 6 for driving the beam 4 up and down consist of a pair of hoists 17, attached to the ends of the horizontal beam 4 by a corresponding first pair of mobile pulleys 18, while a second pair of power-driven pulleys 19 is attached to a first lower frame 8: in this way, the beam can be raised and lowered in a straight line (see arrow F in Figure 3) if the hoists 17 are activated simultaneously or at an angle α that varies in both directions (see arrow F1 in Figure 4) if the two hoists are activated separately.
[0012] The first, lower frame 8 just mentioned is H-shaped and forms part of the carriage 7 which, besides the first lower frame 8 that mounts said hoists 17, consists of a second, upper frame 9 similar in shape to the lower frame and power-driven (by geared motors 27 and devices of known type and therefore not fully illustrated) so that it can run on a first pair of rails 10 which define the first horizontal axis X controlled by the unit 3.
[0013] The first and second frames 8 and 9 are rotatably connected to each other by a vertical cylinder 11 equipped with a means 12, power-driven by a geared motor 28 and designed to enable the first frame 8 to rotate about the vertical axis Z.
[0014] The rotation means 12 consist of a rack 20 placed between the central portion of the second, upper frame 9 and the cylinder 11 that supports the lower frame 8.
[0015] The pantograph 13, as mentioned above, is designed to stabilize the beam 4 while it is moving vertically. The pantograph 13 consists of two pairs of arms, labelled 21, 22 and 23, 24, interlinked to each other. Each pair of arms 21, 22 and 23, 24 is centrally hinged at points A and A' and its ends are pivoted to the beam 4 at points B and B' and to the first, lower frame 8 at points C and C'. Therefore, when the beam 4 is lifted, whether perfectly horizontal or inclined, both with and without a load, its stability in the required position is guaranteed at all times.
[0016] To enable the unit 3 to be moved horizontally along the second, controlled axis, the first pair of rails 10 is power-driven by geared motors 29 and its ends run on a second pair of rails 15 extending parallel with the second, horizontal axis Y perpendicular to the first, horizontal axis X.
[0017] The activation and control unit 14, schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 as a simple block, may consist of a computerized unit controlled by an operator and allowing the latter to synchronize the operations of all the active components of the unit 3 (that is, the motors that drive the hoists 17, the first pair of rails 10, the rack 20 and the electromagnetic units 16).
[0018] The device described up to now, which in practice constitutes a kind of mobile crane, fully achieves the above mentioned aims through a structure that is at once extremely safe and practical thanks to the combination of the electromagnetic units with a highly flexible vertical handling system which, as illustrated in Figure 4, enables groups of products to be easily loaded even if they are in awkward positions and difficult to move using conventional handling systems.
[0019] The flexibility of the system combines with the stability of the beam in any position, thanks to the pantograph, and its high mobility within the warehouse thanks to the double rail system and the rotating rack on the first, lower frame: all of which greatly speeds up the loading and unloading of heavy loads and reduces the personal risk coefficient for warehouse personnel.
[0020] The invention described can be subject to modifications and variations without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements. For example, the present invention can be used to handle very heavy loads of different kinds, not necessarily metal. When the load to be handled does not have magnetic properties, the electromagnetic pickup means can be substituted by any other equivalent pickup means suitable for the purpose.
[0021] Figure 5 illustrates an alternative to the electromagnetic units 16. This embodiment envisages grippers 30, divided into two groups, each mounted close to one end of the beam 4. Each gripper 30 comprises at least one pair of pickup jaws 31 and 32 controlled by drive means 33, which may consist of hydraulic or pneumatic pistons 36 located on the same group and controlled by the same unit 14. Obviously, the gripper 30, in another constructional configuration, may comprise a plurality of jaws (not illustrated) to handle particularly awkward loads.
[0022] Figure 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of the pickup means 5 consisting of a plurality of suction cups 34 uniformly distributed on the underside of the beam 4 in two or more parallel rows. In this embodiment, the beam 4 has an air suction channel 35 designed to enable the suction cups 34 to hold the load.
1. A device for picking up and transporting loads consisting of groups (1) of products
(2) characterized in that it comprises a unit (3) that moves at least along one first
horizontal axis (X) and up and down along a vertical axis (Z) and that consists of:
- a horizontal beam (4) that mounts means (5) for picking up and releasing the groups (1) of products (2);
- means (6) for driving the beam (4) in a vertical plane that comprises the vertical axis (Z) and capable of raising and lowering the beam in a straight line or at an angle (a) that can be varied in both directions;
- a carriage (7) made up of a first, lower frame (8) that mounts the drive means (6) and that is rotatably connected to a second, upper, power-driven frame (9) that runs on a first pair of rails (10), the two frames (8, 9) being rotatably linked to each other by connecting means (11) equipped with power-driven means (12) for rotating the first frame (8) about the vertical axis (Z);
- a pantograph (13) for stabilizing the horizontal beam (4) in the vertical plane during up and down movements.
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a control unit
(14) that acts at least on the pickup means (5), on the vertical drive means (6),
on the upper frame (9) and on the rotation means (12).
3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first pair of rails (10)
is mounted with its ends running on a second pair of rails (15) extending parallel
with a second, horizontal axis Y perpendicular to the first, horizontal axis (X) so
as to enable the unit (3) to be moved along two controlled axes (X, Y).
4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pickup means (5) consist
of two electromagnetic units (16), located at each end of the horizontal beam (4).
5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pickup means (5) consist
of at least two groups of grippers (30) mounted close to each end of the beam (4),
each gripper (30) comprising at least one pair of pickup jaws (31, 32) controlled
by appropriate drive means (33).
6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pickup means (5) consist
of a plurality of suction cups (34) uniformly distributed on the underside of the
beam (4) in two or more parallel rows.
7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical drive means (6)
consist of a pair of hoists (17) attached to the ends of the horizontal beam (4) by
a corresponding first pair of mobile pulleys (18), while a second pair of power-driven
pulleys (19) is attached to the lower frame (8).
8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means (11) consist
of a cylinder and in that the power-driven rotation means (12) consist of a power-driven
rack (20) placed between the central portion of the upper frame (9) and the cylinder
(11) that supports the lower frame (8).
9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pantograph (13) consists
of two pairs of arms (21, 22 and 23, 24), interlinked to each other, each pair being
centrally hinged at points (A, A') and having its ends pivoted to the beam (4) at
points (B, B') and to the lower frame (8) at points (C, C').