Device for clamping container

• US 5,020,963 A
• Filed: 12/01/1989
• Issued: 06/04/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Osaka Taiyo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Osaka Taiyo Company Limited
• Inventors: Okada, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Slavin, Craig
• Application Number:
  US07/444,514
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 414/607, 414/619, 414/620, 414/624, 414/911, 414/90, 414/445, 414/450, 414/406, 414/408, 414/409, 294/31.1, 294/34
• US Class Current: 414/607
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/187 Drum lifting devices

Abstract

A device for clamping container comprises a support frame positionable around the container over approximately one half of the circumference thereof, a pair of substantially horizontal support rods provided on the inner side of the frame in the vicinity of respective opposite ends thereof, and a pair of claw plates mounted on the respective support rods upwardly and downwardly rotatable. The support rods extend away from each other in a horizontal plane toward their front ends. The claw plates have inwardly curved edges opposed to each other for the body of the container to partly fit in and each have an upper surface positioned at a higher level than the support rod. The shortest distance between the claw plates through the center of the container corresponds to the diameter of the container body, and the distance between the front ends of the claw plates is smaller than the diameter. The body of the container can be clamped as by embracing merely by pushing the device against the container and is releasable merely by retracting the device from the container without necessitating any cylinder device or other drive source.

Claims

1. A device for clamping a container having a body, a circumference, a center and a diameter comprising:

a support frame having a first free end and a second free end and positionable around the container to be clamped over approximately one-half of the circumference thereof.

a pair of support rods provided respectively on the first end and the second end of the support frame, each of said support rods having a front end and extending in a generally horizontal plane and generally longitudinally of the support frame so that said support rods extend away from each other and have a distance therebetween which increases toward their respective said front end, and

a pair of claw plates, each having a front end and being mounted on the respective support rods being upwardly and downwardly rotatable and having inwardly curved edges opposed to each other for the body of the container to partly fit in, each of the claw plates having an upper surface positioned at a higher level than the support rod, the shortest distance between the pair of claw plates through the center of the container to be clamped corresponding to the diameter of the container body, the distance between said front end of said each claw plate being smaller than the diameter of the container body, and

said each support rod being rotatably mounted on the support frame and externally threaded, and said each claw plate having a slide block at its base end with the support rod extending through the slide block in screw-thread engagement therewith to rotatably support the base end of the class plate, which claw plates are adjustable with respect to the distance therebetween by rotating the support rods, depending upon the size of the container.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the support frame has a pair of sheaths extending rearward in parallel to each other for the fork of a forklift to fit in.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the support frame is provided on the top of its midportion with a gripping assembly for gripping the upper end of the clamped container to assist in supporting the container.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said support frame consists of a relative rigid, non-movable one-piece integral member which is arranged in a relatively continuous arc in said horizontal plane when viewed in plan view.

2. A device for clamping a container having a body, a circumference, a center and a diameter comprising:

a support frame having a first free end and a second free end and positionable around the container to be clamped over approximately one-half of the circumference thereof,

a pair of support rods provided respectively on the first end and the second end of the support frame, each of said support rods having a front end and extending in a generally horizontal plane and generally longitudinally of the support frame so that said support rods extend away from each other and have a distance therebetween which increases toward their respective said front end, and

a pair of claw plates, each having a front end and being mounted on the respective support rods being upwardly and downwardly rotatable and having inwardly curved edges opposed to each other for the body of the container to partly fit in, each of the claw plates having an upper surface positioned at a higher level than the support rod, the shortest distance between the pair of claw plates through the center of the container to be clamped corresponding to the diameter of the container body, the distance between said front end of said each claw plate being smaller than the diameter of the container body, and

said each claw plate having an auxiliary claw projecting from its frond end longitudinally of said claw plate in said horizontal plane, and made of an elastic material.

9. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the support frame has a pair of sheaths extending rearward in parallel to each other for a fork of a forklift to fit in.

10. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the support frame is provided on a top of its midportion with a gripping assembly for gripping an upper end of the clamped container to assist in supporting the container.

11. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said support frame consists of a relatively rigid, non-movable one-piece integral member which is arranged in a relatively continuous arc in said horizontal plane when viewed in plan view.

3. A device for clamping a container having a body, a circumference, a center and a diameter comprising:

a support frame having a first free end and a second free end and positionable around the container to be clamped over approximately one-half of the circumference thereof,

a pair of support rods provided respectively on the first end and the second end of the support frame, each of said support rods having a front end and extending in a generally horizontal plane and generally longitudinally of the support frame so that said support rods extend away from each other and have a distance therebetween which increases toward their respective said front end, and

a pair of claw plates, each having a front end and being mounted on the respective support rods being upwardly and downwardly rotatable and having inwardly curved edges opposed to each other for the body of the container to partly fit in, each of the claw plates having an upper surface positioned at a higher level than the support rod, the shortest distance between the pair of claw plates through the center of the container to be clamped corresponding to the diameter of the container body, the distance between said front end of said each plate being smaller than the diameter of the container body, and

said support frame being provided on the inner side of its midportion with a contact plate adapted to contact the rear side of the body of the container to be clamped.

12. A device as define din claim 3, wherein the support frame has a pair of sheaths extending rearward in parallel to each other for a fork of a forklift to fit in.

13. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein the support frame is provided on a top of its midportion with a gripping assembly for gripping an upper end of the clamped container to assist in supporting the container.

14. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said support frame consists of a relatively rigid, non-movable one-piece integral member which is arranged in a relatively continuous arc in said horizontal plane when viewed in plan view.

7. A device for a clamping container comprising:

a support frame having a first free end and a second free end and positionable around the container to be clamped over approximately one-half of the circumference thereof,

a pair of support rods, each having a front end and being provided respectively on the first end and the second end of the support frame and extending away from each other in a horizontal plane toward their respective said front end, and

a pair of claw plates, each having a front end and being mounted on the respective support rods upwardly and downwardly rotatable and having inwardly curved edges opposed to each other for the body of the container to partly fit in, each of the claw plates having an upper surface positioned at a higher level than the support rod, the shortest distance between the pair of claw plates through the center of the container to be clamped corresponding to the diameter of the container body, the distance between the front ends of the claw plates being smaller than the diameter of the container body, and,

said support rods, each being rotatably mounted on the support frame and externally threaded, and said claw plate having a slide block at its base end, the support rod extending through the slide block in screw-thread engagement therewith to rotatably support the base end of the claw plate, the claw plates being adjustable with respect to the distance therebetween by rotating the support rods, depending upon the size of the container.

8. A device for clamping container comprising:

a support frame having a first free end and a second free end and positionable around the container to be clamped over approximately one-half of the circumference thereof,

a pair of support rods each having a front end and provided respectively on the first end and the second end of the support frame and extending away from each other in a horizontal plane toward their respective said end, and

a pair of claw plates each having a front end and being mounted on the respective support rods upwardly and downwardly rotatable and having inwardly curved edges opposed to each other for the body of the container to partly fit in, each of the claw plates having an upper surface positioned at a higher level than the support rod, the shortest distance between the pair of claw plates through the center of the container to be clamped corresponding to the diameter of the container body, the distance between the front ends of the claw plates being smaller than the diameter of the container body, and

said support frame being provided on the inner side of its midportion with a contact plate adapted to contact the rear side of the body of the container to be clamped.