Machine and method for facilitating separation of members of a stack
US6357599B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G59/106
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A machine comprising a base and an elongated cradle pivotally mounted on the base is used to facilitate separation of nested tapered drums from a stack. With the cradle in an upright position, the machine is moved toward the stack to embrace the stack in the cradle. A pair of clamps on the cradle embrace and grip successive drums at a lower end of the stack, and then the cradle is moved to a lay-down position, carrying the stack with it. A first clamp of the pair, gripping a first drum, is moved away from a second clamp of the pair and then releases the first drum so that it can be separated from the second drum. The first clamp is then moved toward the second clamp. The second clamp releases the second drum, and the laid-down stack is moved along the cradle to align the second drum with the first clamp and a third drum in the stack with the second clamp. The first and second clamps then grip the second and third drums, respectively, and the first clamp is again moved away from the second clamp. The first clamp then releases the second drum to permit the second drum to be separated from the stack.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.