Method and apparatus for loading and discharging general cargo

• US 3,876,097 A
• Filed: 08/07/1973
• Issued: 04/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karl Borje Lennart Svenson, Per-Olof Albin Erlandsson
• Original Assignee: Karl Borje Lennart Svenson, Per-Olof Albin Erlandsson
• Inventors: Svenson, Karl Borje Lennart, Erlandsson, Per-Olof Albin
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Frank E.
• Application Number:
  US05/386,413
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 214/152,16.4A,650-654,65SG,14,15R,512,514
• US Class Current: 414/659
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0407 using stacker cranes constructional features of stacker cranes B66F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 63/004 for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07 Floor-to-roof stacking devices, e.g. "stacker cranes", "retrievers"

Abstract

A motor truck is used for the mechanical loading and unloading of cargo in the hold of a ship. The motor truck has a vertically adjustable load platform of substantially the same width as the available cargo space and is equipped with conveyor means for moving the cargo on and off the platform, and between a cargo pile and the receiving station for the cargo.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mechanical loading or discharging of general cargo from ships, comprising:

a. a vehicle movable on the floor of a cargo space including substantially vertical carrier means, b. a load support having a generally horizontal surface extending in one direction from and vertically movable along said carrier means, said surface comprising a plurality of laterally spaced conveyor belts to facilitate discharging and loading of cargo, respectively, c. catching means movably mounted on said carrier means above the load support to grip, hold and/or pull the cargo to and from said support, characterized in that said catching means includes;

a catcher member arranged to be pressed against the top surface of the cargo with such a pressure that the cargo, by moving the catcher in one direction, may be moved horizontally onto or off of said support, and including a gripper arranged to engage the outer edge of the cargo and pull the cargo onto the load support of the vehicle.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said catcher is provided with means whereby it may be pressed against the surface of the cargo with an adjustable force.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the catcher includes a plate, the load engaging surface of which is provided with downwardly pointed prongs.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said catching means includes a framework mounted on the carrier means;

the frame work being provided with a movable outer portion on which the catcher is movably mounted and on the outermost end of which the gripper is mounted.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the outer portion of the framework comprises an inverted u-shaped beam having inturned flanges and a pair of wheels running on the flanges, said wheels being journalled in one end of a telescopic spring element, the end of the piston rod of which is connected to one end of an arm, the opposite end of which is journalled near the outer end of the beam to form a knee joint, onto which the catcher is pivotally mounted at the joint between the piston rod and the arm.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the gripper comprises a plate extending downwardly from the beam outwardly of the catcher.