Rapsco Incorporated

Adolph Coors Company

Ira D Hooker, Jr

Ronald A Pearce

Daniel R Simons

Richard E Andrews

A system for storing and transporting can end members comprising multiple tray units having multiple parallel rows of elongated compartments for receiving and supporting stacks of end members. The tray units are nestable and stackable one upon another to provide palletized loads of both empty and filled tray units. End loading and unloading apparatus is provided to enable simultaneous loading and unloading full tray compartments by simultaneous lateral movement of all of the stacks of end members between the tray compartments and a shuttle tray unit whereat all the stacks of end members are stored prior to loading and unloading of the tray unit. The shuttle tray unit is loaded and unloaded by stacking units of a lesser number than the number of tray compartments. The stacking units have elongated upper and lower jaw members which grip and carry a stack of end members between the shuttle tray unit and end member feed and track apparatus for conveying continuous strings of end members to and from the stacking units. Elevator and conveyor apparatus is provided to deliver stacks of empty tray members on a pallet to can end loading station and to stack and palletize loaded trays in a palletizing mode of operation; and to deliver stacks of filled tray members on a pallet to an end unloading station and to stack and palletize empty trays in a depalletizing mode of operation.

Can end handling system

A system for storing and transporting can end members comprising multiple tray units having multiple parallel rows of elongated compartment for receiving and supporting stacks of end members. The tray units are nestable and stackable one upon another to provide palletized loads of both empty and filled tray units. End loading and unloading apparatus is provided to enable simultaneous loading and unloading full tray compartments so simultaneous lateral movement of all of the stacks of end members between the tray compartments and a shuttle tray unit whereat all the stacks of end members are stored prior to loading and unloading of the tray unit. The shuttle tray unit is loaded and unloaded by stacking units of a lesser number than the number of tray compartments. The stacking units have elongated upper and lower jaw members which grip and carry a stack of end members between the shuttle tray unit and end member feed and track apparatus for conveying continuous strings of end members to and from the stacking units. Elevator and conveyor apparatus is provided to deliver stacks of empty tray members on a pallet to can end loading station and to stack and palletize loaded trays in a palletizing mode of operation; and to deliver stacks of filled tray members on a pallet to an end unloading station and to stack and palletize empty trays in a depalletizing mode of operation.

A unitized loader has a structural framework supporting a plurality of air bearings on its upper surface and on its lower surface, the upper air bearings supporting cargo on the loader and the lower bearings supporting the loader on the floor, the structural framework delivering air to both upper and lower bearings from a blower mounted on the framework. A pusher is movably mounted on the framework to index or discharge the cargo, and the upper air bearings are designed to provide greater lift along the sides of the loader to naturally compact cargo. Loader motion is controlled by a belt and chain system, the belt forming a pathway under the lower air bearings during loader extension and the chain connected by a driven sprocket to a drive motor on the loader framework, the belt and chain forming a loop with one point connected to the floor under the loader. The discharge end of the loader may be equipped with a ramp-like articulating section for guiding cargo to floor level. A photo-electric eye system by automatically control loading and discharge of cargo, and a transfer pusher may collect cargo in convenient unit sizes for delivery to the unitized loader.

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Arvada, CO, United States of America

Ira D Hooker, Jr