WO2014206418A1

WO2014206418A1 - Plant and method for loading road transport vehicles with sacks of loose material

Info

Publication number: WO2014206418A1
Application number: PCT/DK2014/050187
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sergio Brioschi
Original assignee: FLSmidth AS
Current assignee: FLSmidth AS
Priority date: 2013-06-24
Filing date: 2014-06-24
Publication date: 2014-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2015-12-24
Also published as: RU2016102056A3; CN105324325A; EP3013724A1; RU2016102056A

Abstract

A plant for loading road transport vehicles with sacks of loose material comprises a parking area (2) of a road transport vehicle; a chain conveyor (5) for the transport of at least one stack of sacks of loose material; said chain conveyor (5) being movable from a loading position to a pickup position located in correspondence of said parking area (2); a handling member of said sacks (S) for picking up said sacks (S) from said chain conveyor (5) in said pickup position and depositing them in said vehicle; said handling member (7) comprises a fork (8) to lift the entire stack of sacks (S) from the chain conveyor (5) towards the vehicle.

Description

PLANT AND METHOD FOR LOADING ROAD TRANSPORT VEHICLES WITH SACKS OF LOOSE MATERIAL

The present invention relates to a plant and a method for loading road transport vehicles with sacks of loose material.

In particular, the present invention finds application in the loading of cement sacks. The invention may, however, refer to the loading of other loose materials, especially for construction, in sacks.

By way of example, road transport vehicles refers to trucks, semi-trailer trucks, lorries and similar.

It is known that the loading of road transport vehicles with sacks of cement is done manually by way of operators who transfer the sacks onto the vehicles. Alternatively, the sacks can be stacked on wooden pallets or slip sheets and subsequently loaded by a forklift onto the truck.

It is evident that the methods and the plants used so far for loading cement sacks on trucks always impose the presence of one or more operators managing the operations. Furthermore, the handling of stacked sacks of cement involves the use of pallets or other supports that cannot be avoided unless handling the cement sacks individually.

It is worth noting that, in the case of vehicles with storage compartments with fixed side boards, there are significant restrictions to the loading methods since it is not possible to use a forklift. Within this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a plant and a method for loading road transport vehicles with sacks of loose material which overcome the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plant and a method for loading road transport vehicles with sacks of loose material that allow a high level of automation of the operations.

It is also another object of the present invention to propose a plant and a method which are safe, fast and effective for loading road transport vehicles with sacks of loose material.

The technical task mentioned and the aim specified are substantially achieved with a plant and a method for loading road transport vehicles with sacks of loose material comprising the technical characteristics presented in one or more of the appended claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more clear from the indicative description, and therefore non-limitative of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a plant and a method for loading road transport vehicles with sacks of loose material, as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a detail of a plant for loading trucks with sacks of loose material according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a part of the plant according to Figure 1 ;

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of the plant in the corresponding operating steps;

Figures 5-10 are side views of the plant according to the invention in corresponding operating steps; Figures 1 1 and 12 are side views of a detail of the plant according to the invention in two distinct operating conditions;

Figures 13 and 14 are perspective and side views, respectively of as many details of the plant according to the invention.

With 1 has been generally indicated a plant for loading road transport vehicles with sacks of loose material, in particular cement, according to the present invention.

In detail, the plant 1 has the task of loading sacks "S" containing cement stacked in stacks of parallelepiped shape generally held on containing compartments "V" of trucks "A", lorries semi-trailer trucks, in general. In the context of this discussion, reference is made to a truck "A", but the invention also finds application to other mentioned transport means.

The plant 1 comprises a parking area 2, where the truck "A" to be loaded is arranged.

The parking area 2 has a rectangular shape with the smaller sides that define, respectively, the entrance and exit of the truck "A" and with the major sides parallel to an advancement direction of the truck "A". The plant 1 also comprises at least one palletizer (not shown) which arranges the sacks "S" in stacks of predetermined size and shape on a special conveyor.

Alternatively or jointly, the plant 1 also comprises a deposit (not shown in the figures) in which the stacks of sacks "S" are stored downstream of the palletizer.

A conveyor 4, preferably of the belt type, delivers stacks of sacks "S" from the palletizer and/or from the deposit to the vicinity of the parking area 2 (Figure 1 ). According to a particular embodiment, the plant 1 comprises two palletizers, each connected to the parking area 2 with a respective conveyor 4. In this case, preferably, the parking area 2 is interposed between the conveyors 4. In the vicinity of the parking area 2, the plant 1 comprises a chain conveyor 5 for the transport of stacks of sacks "S" from the conveyor 4 towards the truck "A". In particular, the chain conveyor 5 is movable from a loading position in correspondence of the conveyor 4 and a pickup position located in correspondence of the parking area 2.

In detail, in the loading position, the chain conveyor 5 is joined and contiguous with a terminal end of the conveyor 4, so that the stacks of sacks "S" are transferred from conveyor 4 itself on the chain conveyor 5. Furthermore, in the pickup position, the chain conveyor 5 is placed in the parking area 2 in correspondence of the lesser side, which defines the entrance of the parking area 2. In other words, in the pickup position, the chain conveyor 5 is located behind the truck "A" when the latter is in the parking area 2. The chain conveyor 5 preferably moves along a rectilinear trajectory.

The chain conveyor 5 is placed on a carriage 27 movable along tracks 6.

Preferably, the carriage 27 comprises wheels 22 which rotate on tracks 6. Motorization means not illustrated are attached to the wheels 22 to allow movement of the carriage 27 from the loading to the pickup position.

With reference to Figure 13, the chain conveyor 5 comprises a plurality of closed- link chains 23 and grouped in two distinct and mutually parallel assemblies 24a, 24b. The top portion of the chains 23 defines a support surface 5a of the chain conveyor 5. The chains 23 of each assembly 24a, 24b move synchronously between themselves moved by respective motors 25.

In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, each assembly 24a, 24b comprises seven chains 23.

Each chain 23 is spaced from the adjacent chain to define an interspace 15.

A first assembly 24a of chains 23 is fixed with respect to the carriage 27. A second assembly 24b is instead movable perpendicularly to the movement direction of the chains 23 to approach and space apart from each other the assemblies 24a, 24b.

The second assembly 23 also comprises rotatable wheels 28 on tracks 29 attached to the carriage 27. A motor 30 causes the displacement of the second assembly 24b along the carriage 27.

When the stacked sacks "S" are transferred to the chain conveyor 5, the latter is arranged in the vicinity of the conveyor 4, in particular facing the first assembly 24a of chains 23. The stacked sacks "S" are transported towards the chains 23 of the first assembly 24a set in motion by the respective motor 30 loading the sacks "S" on the chain conveyor 5.

The chain conveyor 5 is moved so as to face towards the conveyor 4 the second assembly 24b of chains 23 which is spaced from the first assembly 24a to facilitate the loading of a further stack of sacks "S". The further stack of sacks "S" is loaded in the same way.

Subsequently, the second assembly 24b approaches the first assembly 24a to set the two stacks of sacks "S" side by side. The plant 1 also comprises a handling member 7 of the stacks of sacks "S" to pick up the stacks from the chain conveyor 5 and store them in the containing compartment "V" of the truck "A". The handling member 7 comprises a fork 8 which, being inserted between the stacks of sacks "S" resting on the chain conveyor 5 and the chain conveyor 5 itself, lifts the entire stacks to transfer them onto the containing compartment "V" of the truck "A". The fork 8 comprises a bracket 9 and a plurality of prongs 10 transversely fixed to the support 9.

The fork 8 is moved by the handling member 7 arranged above the parking area 2 so as to move the fork 8 from the chain conveyor 5 to the containing compartment "V" of the truck "A".

The handling member 7 comprises a movable wagon 12 and a pair of tracks which define a rail system 13 on which the wagon 12 slides by way of wheels 12a. The rail system 13 is arranged above the parking area 2 and defines a movement direction of the wagon 12. Motors (not shown) are operatively associated with the wagon 12.

The fork 8 is connected to the wagon 12 so as to move, accordingly to the wagon 12 itself along a first direction "D1 " parallel to the rail system 13.

The first direction "D1 " is parallel to the advancement direction of the truck "A". The fork 8 is connected to the wagon 12 by way of an upright 14. The upright 14 is fixed to the support 9 of the fork 8 and is slidably connected to the wagon 12. An actuator (not shown) is operatively placed between the wagon 12 and the upright 14 to move the latter along a direction transverse to the rail system 13. In this way, the fork 8 is movable along a second direction "D2" (vertical) substantially transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the first direction "D1 ". An adjustment member (not shown) acts on the fork 8 to move it in a third direction "D3" orthogonal to the first "D1 " and to the second direction "D2", to adapt the position of the same fork 8 to that of the containing compartment "V "the truck" A ".

As said, the chain conveyor 5 has a plurality of interspaces 15 defined on the support surface 5a. The interspaces 15 are parallel to each other and arranged parallel to the prongs 10 of the fork 8. When it is necessary to lift the entire two stacks of sacks "S" from the supporting surface 5a of the chain conveyor 5, the fork 8 is lowered to the level of the chain conveyor 5, moving along the second direction "D2". In this way, the prongs 10 are located in correspondence of the grooves 15. The fork 8 is then made to advance along the first direction "D1 " so that the prongs 10 will enter, laterally, in the interspaces 15, lying at a lower height to the support surface and under the stacks of sacks "S".

The fork 8 is thus raised along the second direction "D2" until the prongs 10 intercept the two stacks of sacks "S", lifting them.

In the preferred embodiment, the fork 8 comprises 14 prongs 10 and the chain conveyor 5 comprises 14 grooves 15. In an alternative embodiment, the fork 8, thus described, can be replaced with a traditional two-flat-pronged fork for handling stacks of sacks "S" on a pallet.

Advantageously, the handling member 7 of the fork 8 comprises a rotation device 16 active on the fork 8 to rotate it during its movement from the chain conveyor 5 to the containing compartment "V" of the truck "A". In particular, the rotation is performed so that the stacks of sacks "S" rest towards the support 9 of the fork 8 (Figures 5 and 6) just after being raised. When the stacks of sacks "S" are laid in the containing compartment "V" of the truck "A", the rotation device 16 rotates again the fork 8 to allow the unloading of the stacks in the compartment "V" (Figures 7 and 8 ). The rotation device 16 acts on the wheels 12a of the wagon 12, rotating the entire wagon 12 with respect to the rail system 13.

Furthermore, the rotation device 16 comprises an actuator 17, for example hydraulic, acting between the wagon 12 and the wheels 12a at a point eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the wheels 12a themselves.

The rotation of the wagon 12 causes the rotation of the upright 14 and of the fork 8. The handling member 7 also comprises a pusher 18 associated with the fork 8 and acting on the stacks of sacks "S" to push them in the containing compartment "V" of the truck "A". The pusher 18 is active when the fork 8 is located in the containing compartment "V" of the truck "A" (Figure 9). The pusher 18 comprises an operating element 19 movable towards/away from the support 9 of the fork 8 and parallel to the prongs 10.

The pusher 18 also comprises a pantograph 20 connected between the support 9 and the operating element 19 and operated by an actuator not shown (Figures 1 1 and 12).

In use, the pusher 18 extends while the fork 8 is moved back by the wagon 12 so as to let the stacks slip on the bottom of the containing compartment "V".

The pusher 18 is useful when the stacks of sacks "S" are set up without the aid of any pallet.

On the contrary, the pusher can be not provided in the case where the stacks of sacks "S" are arranged on wooden pallet or on pallet of other type. When the stacks have been pushed, the pusher 18 goes back to the initial shape (Figure 10).

The plant 1 further comprises detection means 31 of the exact location of the truck "A" in the parking area 2. In the embodiment shown, the detection means 31 are governed by an operator.

The detection means 31 comprise a laser emitter 32 arranged above the parking area and provided with means (not shown) that allow the emitter 32 to vary its angular position. In this way, the laser beam emitted can illuminate the entire parking area 2 and the containing compartment "V" of the truck "A".

Once the truck "A" is located in the parking area 2, the operator moves the emitter 32 to illuminate the ends of the containing compartment "V" and storing in appropriate control means (not shown) the angular positions of the emitter 32 corresponding to the positions of the ends of the containing compartment "V".

The end positions are detected parallel to the first sides and the second sides of the parking area 2.

These angular positions are processed (by way of appropriate trigonometric functions) to define the absolute positions of the containing compartment "V" of the truck "A" in the parking area 2. The determination of the correct position of the containing compartment "V" determines the correct movement of the fork 8 by way of the handling means 7.

Signaling means (not shown) are provided to help the driver of the truck "A" to position himself in the parking area 2.

For example, said signaling means comprise a position sensor (for example a photocell) to signal the full entry of the truck "A" in the parking area 2 and a traffic light to indicate the driver to stop. Alternatively or in combination, the plant 1 comprises at least one sensor 21 to detect that the area in the containing compartment "V" where to lay the stacks of sacks "S" is actually free. Control means (not shown) are functionally connected to the drive means of the chain conveyor 5, to the engines of the wagon 12, to the actuator between the wagon 12 and the upright 14, to the actuator 17 of the rotation device 16 and to the actuator of the pusher 18, as well as to the sensor 21 to independently manage all operating steps.

The invention also provides a method for loading trucks with sacks of loose material which comprises the operating steps described above.

The invention achieves the intended aim. In fact, the plant described allows easy automation since the use of the fork described allows to lift the stacks of cement sacks together without being actually necessary the involvement of an operator.

Furthermore, for the use of the fork described, the loading operations are extremely fast and safe, since there is no need for operators.

Furthermore, we must observe that the entire handling of the sacks may be carried out at the load level of the motor vehicle, i.e. without the need to move the sacks to greater heights. This dramatically reduces the risk of sacks accidentally falling.

Furthermore, the plant described lends itself particularly well to the loading of trucks with containing compartments defined by fixed side boards. It is therefore possible to speed up the loading operations also in this case.

Moreover, since the chain conveyor allows the fork to lift simultaneously all the sacks of the stacks, it is possible to avoid the use of pallets and this makes the operation even more simple. It should be noted that the plant object of the present description can be advantageously used even in the presence of stacks of sacks arranged on a pallet.

Claims

1 . A plant for loading road transport vehicles with sacks of powdered or granular material comprising:

- a parking area (2) of a road transport vehicle;

- a chain conveyor (5) for the transport of at least one stack of sacks of loose material; said chain conveyor (5) being movable from a loading position to a pickup position located in correspondence of said parking area (2);

- a handling member of said sacks (S) for picking up said sacks (S) from said chain conveyor (5) in said pickup position and depositing them within said vehicle;

characterized in that said handling member (7) comprises a fork (8) to lift the entire stack of sacks (S) from the chain conveyor (5) towards the vehicle. 2. The plant according to claim 1 , wherein said handling member (7) comprises a pusher (18) associated to the fork (8) and acting on the stack of sacks (S) for depositing them within said vehicle.

3. The plant according to claim 2, wherein said fork (8) comprises a support (9) and a plurality of prongs (10) straight and fixed transversely to the support (9); said pusher (18) comprising an operating element (19) movable towards/away from the support (9) and parallel to said prongs (10).

4. The plant according to any preceding claims, wherein said handling member (7) also comprises a rail (13) arranged above said parking area (2) and a wagon

(12) sliding on said rail (13); said fork (8) being connected to said wagon (12) to move along a first direction (D1 ) parallel to the rail (13).

5. The plant according to claim 4, wherein said handling member (7) comprises an actuator fixed to said wagon (12) and said fork (8) for moving said fork (8) along a second direction (D2) perpendicular to the first direction (D1 ).

6. The plant according to any preceding claims, wherein that said handling member (7) comprises a rotation device (16) acting on the fork (8) to rotate the fork (8) during the movement of the fork (8) from the chain conveyor (5) to the vehicle.

5

7. The plant according to any preceding claims, wherein said chain conveyor (5) has a plurality of interspaces (15) formed on a supporting surface (5a) and engageable by said prongs (10) of said fork (8) for grasping said stack of sacks (S).

0

8. The plant according to any preceding claims, wherein it further comprises detection means (31 ) of the position of the truck (A) in the parking area (2).

9. The plant according to any preceding claims, wherein it further comprises at5 least one palletizer to create said stack of sacks (S) arranged upstream of said chain conveyor (5).

10. The plant according to any claims 1 to 8, wherein it further comprises a deposit of stacks of sacks (S) arranged upstream of said chain conveyor (5).0

1 1 . The plant according to any preceding claims, wherein it further comprises control means functionally associated with said handling member (7) to manage in an automatic way the operation. 5 12. A method for loading road transport vehicles with sacks of loose material comprising the steps of:

- arranging a vehicle in a parking area (2);

- loading a chain conveyor (5) with at least a stack of sacks (S);

- moving said chain conveyor (5) from a loading position to a pickup position o located in correspondence of the parking area (2);

- lifting the whole stack of sacks (S) from the chain conveyor (5) and place it on the vehicle by way of a fork.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized by comprising the step of providing said stack of sacks (S) before the step of loading said stack of said on said chain conveyor (5); said preparation step being made without the use of pallets.